Airport travel chaos fear as staff balloted for strike action
Thousands of passengers could face travel chaos at Prestwick Airport .
Up to 100 airport staff are considering going on strike in a pay dispute.
Airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo, customer services, and cleaners are among those who are being balloted for strike action.
They are members of Unite the Union who have rejected pay increase offer of 6.5 per cent.
The ballot for Unite member closes on July 19 and members could picket next month. 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 offer on the table is completely unacceptable and our members are not prepared to tolerate lousy pay. Simply put, they have had enough.”
But 7 out of 10 of the 300 plus airport staff, whwo are members of another union, Prospect, have accpeted airport chiefs enhanced offer.
Airport bosses say “extensive negotiations” have taken placed and that an “enhanced pay offer” “was accepted” by the majority of their staff — only for Unite to reject the offer.
A Prestwick Airport spokesperson said all qualified pemanent stfff will earn above the living wage and addedf: “Following extensive negotiations with unions the airport recently made an enhanced pay offer which will see 70 per cent of our 300plus 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 two per cent more employer pension contributions.
“This deal was accepted by the majority of our staff, including Prospect union members, but disappointingly was rejected by Unite.”
The ballot for Unite members opened on July 5.
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.”
Our members are not prepared to tolerate lousy pay. They have had enough