Edinburgh airport workers have backed strike action as they call for more pay, with their trade union warning of knock-on “chaos” for passengers this summer.
Unite confirmed on May 25 that around 275 workers voted in support of striking, equating to 85% of membership on a 75% turnout.
A spokesperson for the union said travel “chaos” is on the cards unless an improved pay offer is made.
More: Edinburgh airport seeks to avert summer strike threat
But an Edinburgh airport spokesperson called the ballot result “disappointing”, adding that the pay offer was “well above” inflation.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The pay offer on the table is nowhere near good enough and airport bosses know it.
“A realistic pay offer needs to be put on the table which values our members in the same way as our members at Gatwick airport. Unite will always support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Unite said its Edinburgh members rejected a pay offer that was worse than the one made to Gatwick staff, with the London airport’s members accepting a 12% increase plus a £1,500 one-off cash payment.
Unite said it represents the overwhelming majority of the estimated 500 workers at Edinburgh airport, which is controlled by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
Edinburgh’s workers deal with passengers directly in airport security, terminal operations and search areas, and they also process travellers for flights. The workers involved in the ballot also screen all deliveries and deal with airside support services, the union added.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: “Unite wants to resolve this dispute at Edinburgh airport through negotiation. However, we fear that airport management will instead choose to escalate this situation rather than reflect and see sense after the ballot result.
“Unite’s members deserve a pay offer which matches that of other airport workers including those where the owners GIP have a big stake like at Gatwick. It’s up to airport bosses now but they are under no illusions as to the strength of feeling among our membership.”
Unite said figures show that over the last seven years a total of £691.9m has flowed out Edinburgh airport in payments made to GIP (£304.2m) and shareholders (£387.7m).
The union added that workers’ real take-home pay is estimated to have dropped by around 9.8% over the same period.
A spokesman for Edinburgh airport said: “This is a disappointing decision from Unite, especially after we met the ask of our unions – an 11% pay rise along with a £1,000 cost of living payment. We have made an improved offer to staff, with a 50% increase in the cost of living payment proposed. This has not yet been balloted on.
“Unite is insistent on comparing this offer to the one made at Gatwick but the important context missing from that comparison pushed by Unite is that this 11% increase at Edinburgh airport would be the third pay rise given to the team since 2020, representing an overall increase of 19.6%. In contrast, this is the first offer made by Gatwick in the same timeframe – a point Unite purposefully fails to note.
“We have proposed a deal that is well above what has been offered to many other workers in Scotland and is well above inflation. We still have serious concerns about the integrity of the original ballot and the number of members that voted – concerns Unite have failed to address.
“We have made every attempt to avert industrial action and to agree a well-deserved pay rise for all of our hardworking employees, not just the minority who are Unite members. We remain open to negotiating in good faith with our unions and have agreed to participate in future talks.”