Airport braced for strike action
Baggage screening staff are balloting over pay
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Advertising Sport craig.ritchie@reachplc.com Advertising lynsey.gair@trinitymirror.com 07393 762401 Baggage screening staff at Glasgow Airport have threatened strike action over a new pay offer.
Union Unite is preparing to ballot members over possible industrial action at International Consultants on Targeted Security (ICTS) based at the transport hub.
The company provides the baggage screening process for Trans-Atlantic and European flights for some of the biggest airlines including, Emirates, American Airlines, Virgin and Thomas Cook.
The dispute centres around a recent pay offer made to around 70 staff in Paisley which would see them paid nine pence less than their colleagues at Edinburgh Airport.
Unite say the offer was rejected by 77 per cent of members.
Any action is likely to cause wide spread disruption as contingency plans are put in place.
Union officials claim deal to bridge the gap between Glasgow and Edinburgh pay rates were agreed at a meeting in May but has since been withdrawn.
ICTS workers at Glasgow Airport also had bank holiday and shift allowance supplements removed from the pay offer despite Edinburgh Airport workers having received a pay award in May involving double time on bank holidays and time- and- a- half for working between 10pm and 4.30am.
Unite insists it is willing to get back round the table saying a deal could yet be struck.
Unite regional officer Pat McIlvogue said: “Unite has continually attempted to seek remedy with ICTS management to avoid a dispute.
“These requests have been met with either no response or delaying tactics.”
“ICTS is a strong and profitable multi- national company.
“There can be no doubt that it can afford to provide a decent pay rise for its employees at Glasgow Airport in line with rates and conditions at Edinburgh Airport.
“We believe it is reasonable that Glasgow Airport ICTS workers should be treated no differently from fellow workers at Edinburgh Airport doing exactly the same job. This is a simple question of fairness.”
“ICTS has agreed to ACAS talks on August 9 and Unite remains hopeful that a remedy can be found before then.
“However ICTS management should be under no illusions of the determination of our members to get what they rightfully deserve, which is parity with their colleagues in Edinburgh.”
“ICTS is the only employer within the Glasgow Airport campus where Unite has failed to reach an agreement on pay for 2018-19.
“We call on ICTS to get back round the table and offer a proposal on pay that is worthy of our members consideration.”
A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: “We are aware of the planned ballot and are liaising with ICTS in regards to their contingency plans should they be required.”
An ICTS spokesperson said “We are extremely disappointed that Unite have decided to call for a vote on industrial action despite a scheduled meeting with ACAS onAugust 9.
“We are also concerned that statements being made by the Unite regional Officer, Pat McIlvogue, are not an accurate reflection of matters so far and may serve to undermine the progress made.
“We remain fully committed in our attempts to resolve this issue however, would like to reassure the travelling public there will be no impact to our service provision should industrial action take place.”
Glasgow Airport ICTS workers should be treated no differently from fellow workers at Edinburgh