Unions welcome pay rise for airport workers
Up to 200 workers at Glasgow Airport have accepted a pay deal worth up to 9.1 per cent.
Ground staff at the Paisley transport hub have accepted a pay deal said to be the“best deal”across Menzies Aviation UK operations.
Unite union has confirmed that workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers have accepted an offer by Menzies Aviation which will raise the pay of workers by up to 9.1 per cent backdated to January this year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:“This deal is a testament to our brilliant reps who have ensured that up to 200 workers at Glasgow Airport have secured better pay, terms and conditions by being a member of Unite.
“This further demonstrates this union’s determined work to improve wages and conditions across UK aviation.”
Menzies Aviation handles baggage and ticketing operations for a host of airlines at the Paisley transport hub, says it has set the 100 per cent carbon neutral target to coincide with the company’s 200-year anniversary.
The deal also resolves a long-standing pay disparity between ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation based at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
Other enhancements include a lower threshold to access premium overtime rates, increased holiday entitlement based on service, and the reinstatement of up to five days of additional holidays for those with twenty-five years service.
Unite further confirmed that Menzies Aviation will explore the introduction of a UK-wide sick pay scheme in 2022.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, added:“Hailed as the best in the sector, this deal is a fantastic result which ensures members’pay keeps pace with living costs and removes a historical pay disparity between workers at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
“The pay award sets a benchmark for Menzies Aviation across the UK.”
The pay deal comes as UK inflation, the rate at which prices are rising, jumped to nine per cent in the 12 months to April, up from seven per cent in March.