Bosses at Prestwick Airport have today hit back at claims they have dragged their heels over a new pay offer to their 300 plus staff.
Yesterday, Ayrshire Live told how the airport could be hit by strike action in the coming weeks — as workers are to be balloted in a row over pay.
The prospect of widespread disruption was posed by the aviation trade union, Unite and is set to leave thousands of passengers sweating over their travel plans this summer.
But top brass at the airport say “extensive negotiations” took place and that an “enhanced pay offer” “was accepted” by the majority of their staff — only for Unite to reject the offer.
A spokesperson for Glasgow Prestwick Airport said: “Following extensive negotiations with unions the airport recently made an enhanced pay offer which will see 70 per cent of our 300-plus employees receiving a pay increase of 6.5 per cent or above, improvements to allowances, increased annual leave entitlement, enhanced sick pay provisions, and up to 2 per cent more employer pension contributions. All qualified permanent staff will earn above the real living wage.
“This deal was accepted by the majority of our staff, including Prospect union members, but disappointingly was rejected by Unite.”
Unite say they are looking for across the board rises closer to real inflation for all workers at the airport, and an immediate lift in the wage of the lowest paid to take them to the Scottish Real Living Wage (£9.90).
Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer, said the current offer on the table was “completely unacceptable” and that their members were being balloted for strike action.
The ballot opened July 5 and closes on July 19 and will include airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo, customer services, and cleaners.
But an airport spokesperson said: “Following a recent consultative ballot to support strike action, which was backed by just 15 per cent of our staff, Unite is now formally balloting for potential strike action no earlier than mid-August.
“We await the outcome of the ballot and whilst any industrial action would be unwelcome and would further delay delivery of the pay deal to our staff, we will work hard to ensure that our customers are not impacted.”
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