Unite the union has today stated that the industrial action taking place between 04:00-16:00 has ‘severely disrupted’ operations at Glasgow Airport as further strike dates were announced.
The action undertaken involves airport security officers, airport fire safety, airfield operations officers, and engineering technicians.
Unite confirmed another six hour stoppage on 21 June from 08.30 to 14.30. This is in addition to the following stoppages: 10 June between 04.00-16.00, and 14 June between 04.00 and 08.00.
The union has also lambasted the false statements by Glasgow Airport alleging that Unite was not willing to enter further talks. Unite can confirm that communications to airport management on 5 June stated that the union was willing to ‘discuss this and other matters relating to the dispute on pay and pensions in an attempt to find a remedy prior to the industrial action’. These overtures were ignored by Glasgow Airport management. The airport is part of AGS Airports Limited group, which also owns Aberdeen and Southampton airports.
The dispute centres on Glasgow Airport withdrawing from negotiations over its proposal to close its pension scheme to existing members. The decision broke an existing Acas agreement made in 2016, which has already saved AGS £12 million in the last three years. Glasgow Airport posted a £74 million profit after tax in 2017 up from £51 million in 2016.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite regional industrial officer, said:
“The industrial action has severely disrupted Glasgow Airport’s operations, despite the underhand tactics by management which included substituting fire safety officers with other staff on site who were questionably trained for the job. It’s a shame that passengers’ travel has been disrupted but this is 100 percent the fault of Glasgow Airport management.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Unite has repeatedly requested meetings with management and can categorically prove that we wanted to meet any time this week to try and find a resolution to this dispute. But, our overtures have been completely ignored which is why we have added further dates for industrial action. If we continue to be ignored then we will have no option but to escalate this dispute.”