Glasgow Airport could see summer holiday chaos as security staff balloted for strike action

Hundreds of security workers at Glasgow Airport are being balloted for strike action ahead of the summer holiday rush amid a pay dispute.

Around 300 staff across Glasgow and Aberdeen airports rejected a pay offer from ICTS Central Search of four per cent backdated to January 2024, and a £500 one-off payment.

ICTS's team provides the security at Glasgow Airport, including passenger pre-board and cabin bag screening.

Unite the Union stated that scheduled talks on Friday (June 7) with ICTS were cancelled at the last minute by the company, and the union has called on the airports’ owner – AGS – to intervene in the escalating pay dispute.

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The ballots at both airports will open on Monday, June 17 and will close on Monday, July 1. If the ballots are successful, then strike action could start mid-July at the peak of the summer holiday rush.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has repeatedly warned ICTS that our members at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are on the verge of taking strike action due to the greed of an extremely profitable company. Our members have been left with no option but to fight for a fair pay offer because the company is refusing to give them one.”

"Unite will back our ICTS members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”

ICTS employs around 220 workers at Glasgow airport and around 100 workers at Aberdeen airport. The workers deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights. The workers also cover mobile patrols, control access posts, screen all deliveries and deal with emergency services.

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Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for the aviation sector in Scotland, said: “ICTS cancelled talks at the last minute with Unite which shows how much it cares about their workforce and the travelling public. Unite is now calling on AGS which owns and operates both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports to intervene because shockingly ICTS can’t even be bothered to meet us.

"Unite has made it clear that there should be a pay offer on the table which reflects the importance of our members’ jobs, and we believe AGS recognise this fact even if ICTS don’t. Without these workers the airports simply can’t operate.

“ICTS are coining it in on the back of our members’ hard work but it is choosing to undervalue our members, and put at risk the holidays of the travelling public during the summer.”

An ICTS spokesperson said: "Constructive pay talks with our staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are ongoing. Generous pay proposals have been tabled that would give staff an increase as well as a lump sum payment. This is in addition to the 15-28% increases our staff have received over the last 2 years. We would like to reassure the travelling public that their security is our priority and there will be no disruptions.”