Almost 700 airport workers in Edinburgh and Glasgow have voted in favor of industrial action during the peak summer holiday season, coinciding with major events like the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Strike dates are set to be announced soon by Unite the union, with the action anticipated to impact operations during these significant occasions.

The dispute stems from ongoing pay disagreements affecting approximately 370 Edinburgh Airport Limited employees and around 320 workers employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation in Glasgow. ICTS staff responsible for passenger security checks and flight processing are among those supporting the strike.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, highlighted the widespread support for the summer strike among workers at Scotland’s major airports, attributing the situation to employers’ reluctance to offer fair wages. The union emphasized that the workers feel compelled to strike due to the prioritization of profits over their well-being by affluent companies.

In response, a spokesperson from Menzies Aviation expressed disappointment at the union’s decision to proceed with industrial action, aiming to disrupt flights at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. They emphasized their efforts to present a fair pay proposal considering the challenging circumstances caused by the Middle East conflict and inflation rates, along with contingency plans to mitigate any disruptions for passengers and airlines.

Edinburgh Airport announced ongoing discussions with unions regarding pay matters, while AGS Airports acknowledged the situation involving Unite, Menzies, and ICTS, affirming ongoing negotiations to resolve the pay disputes and prevent disruptions to passengers’ travel plans.