UK airport summer holiday chaos warning as strikes could ruin Brits' holidays
A trade union has warned that strike action planned for the summer at one major UK airport could bring flights to a standstill.
Around 450 workers at a major UK airport are planning for strike action during the peak summer holiday season as pay disputes remain unresolved. The Unite union has warned that strike action planned for the summer could bring flights and passengers to a standstill during the airport’s peak season.
The union remains embroiled in disputes with three companies operating at the airport. At Glasgow Airport Ltd, 98.7 percent of Unite members supported industrial action after roughly 100 employees rejected a standard 4 percent pay offer. A spokesperson for the Airport said it "remains open" to finding a "sensible resolution" to the dispute.
The Unite has reported that more than 100 Swissport employees remain in dispute over shift patterns, work-life balance, and ongoing health and safety concerns.
The union says staff are experiencing chronic fatigue caused by understaffing, with workers often being called in at very short notice.
A ballot is currently underway on Swissport’s latest offer, set to close on July 14. Should members vote against the proposal, Unite plans to initiate a full industrial action ballot.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Employers at Glasgow Airport will not get away with underpaying or mistreating Unite’s members. Hundreds of workers are involved in disputes at the airport.
“Summer strike action which would ground planes and passengers remains on the cards. These highly profitable companies can easily afford to put the minds of the travelling public at rest by making fair offers to workers.”
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Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Strike action has moved a step closer after our Glasgow Airport Limited members emphatically backed industrial action. We believe the airport's new management is attempting to put us on a collision course which would bring out hundreds of workers on strike during the peak summer holiday season."
"Meanwhile, Unite has successfully delivered significant pay deals for our members at Menzies Aviation and Falck. These deals build on the recent successes made with other companies at the airport. It clearly demonstrates that pay disputes can be resolved through negotiation and without the need for industrial action if companies are willing to work with Unite.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow Airport told The Express: “We are reviewing the ballot results and remain open to finding a sensible resolution.”
A spokesperson for Swissport told The Express: “Our priority is the safety and wellbeing and fair treatment of our workforce, alongside maintaining high standards of service for our customers and we remain committed to working constructively with Unite to find a fair and sustainable resolution.”
