British holidaymakers could face travel chaos during summer months as over 900 workers across three UK airports are likely to go on a strike action. Unite said 900 workers across Scotland would vote on industrial action in a dispute over pay with three companies based at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
This means that if the strikes go ahead, air travel will be disrupted during the busy summer holiday season, overlapping with the FIFA World Cup in June - when thousands of Scots plan to visit the US and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from July 23 until August 2. Four of the ballots will close on May 21, while ICTS staff at Aberdeen will have until May 28 to vote. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Hundreds of workers across Scotland's largest airports are heading towards summer strike action.
"The companies involved are all highly profitable. They can easily afford to give our members fair and reasonable pay offers but have decided to put boosting profits before people."
Edinburgh Airport Ltd said its latest pay offer was significantly above inflation. Last week, Unite revealed that around 170 ICTS employees at Glasgow Airport were being balloted for industrial action after rejecting a pay proposal.
A further 70 ICTS staff at Aberdeen Airport, who work in search areas and other security roles, are now also being asked to vote.
In addition, some 370 employees at Edinburgh Airport Ltd - including ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers - will take part in the ballot, alongside about 280 groundhandling staff employed by Menzies Aviation.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: "In a time of global uncertainty around aviation, we have proposed a deal that is well above what has been offered to many other workers in Scotland and is well above inflation.
"Pay for our colleagues has already increased by 24.6% cumulatively since 2023, outpacing inflation. Strike ballots from Unite and the accompanying publicity only add to that uncertainty."
It added the offer comes as the airport has faced an unplanned 142% increase in business rates, which means an additional £8million of costs to cover.
"Edinburgh Airport has always worked with unions to ensure fairness and equity and has a proven track record of collaboration and consensus. We remain open to negotiating in good faith with our unions, ballot or not," the spokesperson said.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue added: "Any strike action would ground planes and passengers during an expectedly busy period with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
"The blame for this situation arising will lie entirely with these extremely wealthy companies. They can end these disputes immediately, and in doing so they can give the travelling public peace of mind."
A Glasgow Airport spokesperson said last week: "We are aware of ongoing talks between Unite and ICTS and are keen to ensure that this dialogue results in a positive resolution."
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