Glasgow airport baggage screeners win improved pay deal

Baggage screeners at Glasgow airport have won an improved pay deal.

Around 50 hold baggage screeners employed by security firm ICTS at the airport will see their basic pay increase by 9.8% backdated to October 2024, according to the Unite union. 

The hourly rate of pay will rise by £1.28 to £14.33 with double time being secured on Christmas or new year’s day.  

A one-off bonus of £500 will also be paid to all ICTS workers which increases the worth of the overall pay package to 11.6%, the union said. 

The security staff carry out a number of tasks including the X-ray screening of hold baggage, document checks and the upkeep of the baggage system.

Unite confirmed in May 2022 that it had seen the wages of ICTS workers rise over the course of a year from £8.95 to £11.50 per hour equivalent to an increase of 28.5%.

The latest pay agreement means basic pay has increased by a further 24.6%. 

The agreement came as Unite warned of potential summer strike action in an escalating pay dispute involving 600 ground handlers employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

The union’s regional industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “Unite has successfully lifted the basic hourly wage of our members at ICTS by over 60% in the last few years. 

“This has been achieved through successful negotiations. The deal demonstrates what can be achieved by working together.” 

Unite announced wage wins for 100 North Air workers across Scottish airports, and more than 140 staff at Glasgow airport employed by ABM and OCS over the last week.