Airport security staff vote to accept new pay offer

About 300 security staff at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports have voted to accept a pay offer of up to 12.8%.

The pay deal delivers a basic pay rise of 5%. A one-off payment of £500 and an enhancement to the shift allowance of 75p per hour, which is an uplift worth around 5.9%, is also included in the deal.

There will be access to double time shift rates for Christmas and New Year’s Day. The overall pay package boost is estimated to be worth up to 12.8% for some workers.

The ICTS Central Search workers previously rejected a basic pay increase of 4% backdated to January and a £500 one-off payment.

ICTS will also be advertising a minimum of 15 full time posts which will be initially offered to existing part-time staff following negotiations with Unite.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for aviation in Scotland, said: “We are pleased that the company came to its senses and got back round the table to make an improved offer which was acceptable to our members.

"The possibility of strike action at the airports is now over.”

ICTS Central Search employs about 220 workers at Glasgow Airport and about 100 workers at Aberdeen Airport.

The ICTS workers deal with passengers directly in the security search areas and process them for flights

The workers also cover mobile patrols, control access posts, screen all deliveries and deal with emergency services.

The union had claimed workers recently faced understaffing and were denied contractual breaks.

Unite said it had received growing reports of fatigue, exhaustion, and stress due to staff working beyond six hours with no break.