City airport workers ‘let down’ amid pay dispute
WORKERS at Cardiff Airport say they have been let down in a dispute about wages.
There has been a long-running dispute between workers and airport bosses.
Campaigners said some staff in the coffee shop were paid more than security staff with responsibility for screening passengers.
After a previous campaign workers claim they were given a promise by the chief executive that she would meet to discuss their concerns but that has not happened.
Citizens Cymru Wales says it is disappointed that in the period they have been campaigning the Welsh Government has put an additional £6m of funding into the airport but has not forced the airport to look at offering a real living wage.
They say as the airport is Welsh Government owned, and that the Government itself is a Living Wageaccredited organisation which has a code of practice calling on all recipients of public money to implement the real living wage, the Government should be forcing the airport to take action.
The airport has said there will be an incremental rise towards the living wage but no change until at least 2019.
Campaigners say that is too long for low-paid staff to struggle to survive.
Airport bosses say they already pay above the National Living Wage for all staff – both above and below the age of 25 – and are “working towards” paying the real living wage subject to the airport moving back to a position of profitability by that date.
Citizens Cymru Wales says other areas including universities have been able to introduce the real living wage much more quickly with Government pressure.
It said that the airport has to accredit as a real living wage employer to ensure that the 2019 and 2020 dates are met.
A security guard, who asked not to be named, said staff were paid around £8.17 an hour – 34p more than the minimum wage but 58p less than the real living wage.
“As the first line of defence against terrorism we have to be vigilant.
“It is literally a life-or-death scenario – if we make a mistake the responsibility is huge.
“I love my job but the sad fact is that I would earn more money serving coffees in the terminal café than working as a security worker at Cardiff Airport.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Since the Welsh Government acquired Cardiff Airport it has made significant and tangible strides towards ensuring a fair living wage for all of those who work there.”
An airport spokeswoman said: “We are aiming to ensure that airport staff across all departments are paid at least the real living wage by 2020.”