Pay increase secured for hundreds of Edinburgh airport workers

A new pay deal has been secured for hundreds of workers at Edinburgh airport.

Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh airport have accepted a new one-year pay which will boost pay packages by 7.4%.

Around 250 workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers will benefit from the Menzies Aviation pay offer, which increases basic pay by 6.4 per cent.

Other enhancements to the pay package mean that its total worth to Menzies Aviation workers at Edinburgh airport is 7.4 per cent.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The latest deal secures a timely boost to the pay packages of our Menzies Aviation members based at Edinburgh airport.

“Unite’s ‘Runway to Success’ campaign across Scottish airports is clocking up a string of successes. It demonstrates why Unite is the leading union for airport workers because we do what we promise: we deliver better jobs, pay and conditions.”

The overtime rate will be increased to two times the basic hourly pay on key public holidays.

An unsociable hours supplement of 50p per hour for all hours worked between 11pm and 6am will also be introduced.

Unite has also secured the introduction of a company sick pay scheme after six months’ service consisting of a maximum of six weeks full pay followed thereafter by six weeks half pay.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite is delighted to have secured another pay win this time for Menzies Aviation workers at Edinburgh airport. The deal ensures that basic pay, shift and overtime rates are all improved along with access to a company sick pay scheme.

“The pay deal with Menzies is a timely reminder to other companies based at Scottish airports that deals can be reached through negotiation.

“The same can’t be said for other companies like ICTS who we are in dispute with at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports. ICTS appears intent on escalating our dispute to strike action, rather than resolving this through talks by making a fair pay offer to our members.”

Around 300 Unite members based in Aberdeen and Glasgow airports employed by ICTS central search are being balloted on strike action in an escalating pay dispute.

The ballots at both airports will close on July 1, and If successful, strike action could start mid-July at the peak of the summer holiday rush.