Hundreds of jobs could be lost at aviation firm

HUNDREDS of workers at Scotland’s biggest airports are at risk of losing their jobs, a union has warned.

More than 300 workers at Menzies Aviation at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are facing redundancy as the company reels from huge losses due to the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, Unite has claimed.

The company has been blasted for urging the government to extend its furlough scheme, while choosing to “forge ahead” with job losses the union suggests will be avoidable.

Pat McIlvogue, a Unite regional industrial officer in Glasgow, said: “We are deeply frustrated and angry that despite the company calling for the job retention scheme to be extended so that job losses could be avoided they have still forged ahead with this announcement.

“Unite fully understands the situation facing the civil aviation industry, which is why we have been calling for a co-ordinated national response so that we can safeguard thousands of Scottish jobs. However, let us be clear, these job losses do not need to happen and this is a deliberate choice by Menzies Aviation to slash its workforce.”

The company has entered into a 45-day consultation period with its nearly 600-strong workforce at the two major Scottish airports.

Giles Watson, CEO of Menzies Aviation, said: “This has been the most challenging period the UK aviation sector has ever seen and whilst a small number of flights have started operating again, we do not expect volumes to return to pre-Covid 19 levels in the near future.

“We’re left with no choice therefore but to take action to match our workforce to the volumes we anticipate through the winter and well into 2021 to ensure Menzies is sustainable now and fit for the future.”