Strike action at Aberdeen Airport 'inevitable' as workers vote in favour of walkouts

Unite have warned walkouts at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are "inevitable" after around 300 workers heavily backed strike action in their pay dispute.

The union confirmed the outcome of the vote on Tuesday (July 2), with strike action supported by 98.5% of around 200 ICTS (UK) Limited workers at Glasgow and a further 100 or so at Aberdeen airport.

A total of 89.7% voted in favour of strike action, with the ballot coming after workers rejected the latest offer of a pay increase from the company.

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Unite also 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.

It would see walkouts occur during the peak of the Scottish school summer holiday unless ICTS significantly increases its offer in the coming days.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite’s members employed by ICTS at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports will not tolerate low pay.

"ICTS is a very profitable company, yet it is refusing to make our members a fair pay offer. Unite will back our ICTS members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

Unite’s lead industrial officer for aviation in Scotland Pat McIlvogue warned ICTS had chosen to take the dispute further "rather than act in a responsible way by negotiating a fair pay offer with Unite."

He added: "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.

Mr McIlvogue called on AGS, owner of both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, to intervene in a final attempt to get ICTS to curtail the risk of widespread travel disruption. "Without these workers, the airports simply can’t operate."

ICTS central search workers at the airports rejected the offer of a basic pay increase of 4%, backdated to January 2024 and a £500 one-off payment.