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Glasgow airport faces 24-hour strike in pay and pensions row

A 24-hour strike by workers at Glasgow airport is to go ahead on April 16.

Members of the Unite union at the airport were balloted on strike action in a row over pay and pensions and 95% voted for industrial action.

Almost 500 workers at the airport will take part in the strike between 4am on April 16 and 4am the next day.

The airport pledged to take steps to prevent any disruption to services.

The dispute involves administrative and security staff but will not affect check in desks, baggage handling or air traffic control.

Unite also said its members were set to enforce an overtime ban between mid-April and mid-October.

Glasgow airport said its pay offer was fair and reasonable and that contingency plans were being put in place to avoid any disruption.

The vote came after management made an annual pay offer of 1.8% and announced plans to close the final salary pension scheme.

Unite claims the pay offer represents a real terms pay cut and the pension plan breaks a 2016 Acas agreement to keep the scheme open to existing members.

The pension proposal has been made to staff at Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports, which are all part of AGS Airports.

The results of the Aberdeen airport staff ballot are expected within the next two weeks, according to the BBC.

Unite regional industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “The overwhelming support for industrial action on a very high turnout shows the strength of feeling by hundreds of Unite members at Glasgow airport.

“So, while talks with Acas are scheduled over the coming weeks, I’m not confident at all that Glasgow airport management has the awareness and sense to bring this dispute to a positive resolution.

“Industrial action is now set for the spring and summer period, and the public should know that Glasgow airport is exclusively to blame for this situation.”

A company spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed at the decision by the trade unions to take industrial action. We have made a pay offer that is entirely fair and reasonable against a backdrop of declining passenger numbers.

“The consultation on proposals to close our final salary (defined benefit) pension scheme is still ongoing, however, with employer contributions anticipated to rise significantly above the current level of 19.8% it is simply no longer affordable or sustainable.

“We are committed to continuing negotiations with the trade unions and have sought the intervention of the conciliation service Acas in attempt to achieve a sensible and sustainable outcome.

“In the event of strike action we will implement our contingency plans to avoid any disruption for our airlines and passengers.”

Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association president Ken McLeod has warned that strike action will compound ongoing Brexit travel uncertainty.

 

 

 

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