Union warns Glasgow Airport strikes could hit summer holidays

The looming threat of strike action at Glasgow Airport this summer has put holidaymakers on alert, as more than 800 workers from five different companies are embroiled in pay disputes. Unite the union has indicated that workers at Glasgow Airport Ltd, ICTS Central Search, Swissport, Menzies Aviation, and Falck could potentially be balloted for walkouts if issues are not resolved soon.

The union has issued a warning that if these disputes are not settled in the coming days, they will move forward with holding votes on industrial action within a fortnight. The possibility of strikes could have serious implications, with potential to disrupt flights and inconvenience passengers. Among the companies involved, more than 100 Swissport workers are currently at odds with management over rosters and work-life balance, according to Unite.

Unite has highlighted the concerns of various workers across the five companies operating at Glasgow Airport, including under-staffing, working conditions, and pay disputes. Employees such as airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, managers, firefighters, dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers are all part of the ongoing disagreements. Talks between Unite and the five employers have been ongoing for months, with Unite’s Pat Mcilvogue emphasizing the need for meaningful offers to avoid potential disruption for the traveling public in July.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has called out the companies involved for being highly profitable and capable of providing better pay and working conditions for their employees. While Glasgow Airport and Menzies Aviation have expressed commitment to finding a resolution, Falck and ICTS Central Search have yet to comment on the situation. With tension rising and strike action on the horizon, the hope is that negotiations between the unions and employers will yield positive outcomes to avert any potential disruptions for travelers

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