Strike threat at Prestwick Airport averted after Unite union agrees pay deal for 400 workers
Cleaners, firefighters and other staff win increases of up to 8 per cent
Potential strikes by more than 400 workers at Prestwick Airport have been averted after the Unite union agreed a pay deal with its Scottish Government-owned operator.
News of the deal on Tuesday came a day after the union announced pay settlements at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, although the threat of strikes remain at Aberdeen Airport.
Pay disputes involving strike ballots are common at airports at this time of year when they are nearing their busiest, but are often resolved before any industrial action goes ahead.
Staff at Prestwick such as cleaners, firefighters, ground crew and those in ground handling, cargo, customer services and security have won increases of 5.1 to 8 per cent.
Unite said the deal guaranteed the real living wage of £13.45 per hour for all permanent staff.
Workers will also get an extra leave day this year, and improvements to shift payments and pension contributions.
The union said a strike ballot had been due to be concluded this week after a previous “unacceptable” offer was rejected.
However, it said the new offer had been overwhelmingly backed by members in a ballot.
The decision to hold a strike ballot had not previously been announced.
But Unite said it did not always do this, such as because of agreements made with companies or due to ongoing negotiations.
The South Ayrshire airport has passenger flights operated by Ryanair along with a major cargo base for China traffic and military flights and refuelling stops from North America.
Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer said: “The Prestwick airport deal brings us much closer to achieving proper recognition for shift work, unsocial hours and the incredible flexibility our members show to keep the business growing.”
On Monday, the union announced a pay deal for 400 staff directly employed by Edinburgh Airport - Scotland’s busiest - averting potential strikes.
That came hours after Unite said it had reached a pay agreement for some 400 workers at Glasgow Airport employed by security firm ICTS and handling agents Menzies Aviation.
The union settled two pay disputes at Aberdeen Airport on Friday but ICTS HBS security staff there are being balloted until Thursday over strike action after rejecting a pay offer.
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