SCOTS travellers are set to face disruption this summer after airport workers at two airports rejected pay offers.
Around 600 workers employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports could go on strike after rejecting separate pay offers, trade union Unite said.
Members involved in the dispute include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers and support airlines ranging from American, United, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Emirates Lufthansa, Loganair, and AIR Transat.
A pay increase of 4.25% had been offered to about 300 Menzies Aviation workers at Glasgow Airport, while 300 workers based at Edinburgh Airport rejected a pay rise worth around 4%.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: “Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren’t good enough.
“Menzies Aviation has the ability to improve its offers and they can easily resolve this pay dispute without any disruption to the travelling public. If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays.”
Unite said it had reached a pay deal with Swissport, the other main ground handling company at the airports.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s Menzies members have emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers. The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company.”
Commenting, Phil Lloyd, senior vice president UK, Menzies Aviation, said: “Following the rejection of recent pay award proposals, we remain committed to seeking a resolution.
“We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions this week and hope to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
“We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect services for our airline and airport partners and their customers.”
