Summer plans for some could be thrown into chaos as strikes at two major UK airports are “inevitable” after workers overwhelmingly voted to strike in a pay dispute.
As many as 300 airport staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are set to walk out, with a whopping 89.7 percent of people voting in favour of strike action.
Unite Union confirmed that the ICTS Central Search employees, who deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights, could start action in mid-July unless ICTS significantly moves on pay in the coming days.
Workers at both airports will “not tolerate low pay”, according to Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
Unite’s lead industrial officer for aviation in Scotland Pat McIlvogue said ICTS had chosen to take the dispute to the point of strike action “rather than act in a responsible way by negotiating a fair pay offer with Unite”.
“Strike action is now inevitable because 300 ICTS workers at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports have been left with no choice but to fight for what they deserve,” he said.
Mr McIlvogue called on AGS, the owner of Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, to intervene in a final attempt to get ICTS to step back from the brink of causing widespread travel disruption.
He added: “Without these workers, the airports simply can’t operate.”
ICTS central search workers at the two Scottish airports have already rejected a basic pay increase of 4 percent, backdated to January 2024 and a £500 one-off payment.
What should you do if your plane is delayed? Are you owed compensation?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
However, the airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather or air traffic control employee strikes.