Edinburgh Airport strike could 'ground planes' during World Cup, warns union
The strikes could coincide with the school summer holidays and while thousands of fans are travelling to watch Scotland play at the World Cup
Football fans travelling to the US for the World Cup could face disruption if staff at Edinburgh Airport vote in favour of industrial action this summer.
Unite union confirmed 370 staff from Edinburgh Airport Ltd, which includes airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers, are being balloted over strike action.
A further 280 ground services staff employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers, will also vote.
The union warned if pay disputes with the companies are not resolved, industrial action could take place during over the summer holidays, clashing with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The workers provide support for major airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Emirates, Lufthansa, Loganair, and AIR Transat.
Carrie Donoghue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Any strike action would ground planes and passengers during an expectedly busy period with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.”
“The blame for this situation arising will lie entirely with these extremely wealthy companies. They can end these disputes immediately, and in doing so they can give the travelling public peace of mind.”
ICTS staff at Glasgow Airport and Aberdeen Airport are also being balloted over the summer action.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hundreds of workers across Scotland’s largest airports are heading towards summer strike action.
“The companies involved are all highly profitable. They can easily afford to give our members fair and reasonable pay offers but have decided to put boosting profits before people."
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: “In a time of global uncertainty around aviation, we have proposed a deal that is well above what has been offered to many other workers in Scotland and is well above inflation.
“Pay for our colleagues has already increased by 24.6% cumulatively since 2023, outpacing inflation. Strike ballots from Unite and the accompanying publicity only add to that uncertainty.
"The above-inflation offer comes as the airport has seen an unplanned 142% increase in business rates, meaning an additional £8 million of costs to cover.
“We are a successful business but constant cost increases, be that imposed by the Scottish Government or through yearly above-inflation wage demands are simply not tenable.
"Edinburgh Airport has always worked with unions to ensure fairness and equity and has a proven track record of collaboration and consensus. We remain open to negotiating in good faith with our unions, ballot or not.”
The ballot for Menzies Aviation staff in Edinburgh opens on May 8 and the ballot for Edinburgh Airport Limited workers opens on May 7. Both close May 21.
Menzies Aviation has been contacted for comment.
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