Workers to strike at Glasgow airport after ‘poverty’ pay offer

A group of workers at Glasgow airport has voted to strike next month after their union described a wage offer as “poverty pay”.

Unite has confirmed that the workers, employed by OCS Group UK Limited to help passengers with mobility challenges, will take part in 24-hour strikes on July 6 and July 11.

The trade union said its members had rejected a pay offer which would take basic pay to £10.90 an hour.

More: Birmingham airport staff to vote on summer strike action

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s OCS members are rightly taking a stand against what we have already described as a poverty pay offer.”

The living wage in Scotland is £10.90, according to The Poverty Alliance.

About 70 Unite members employed by OCS Group UK Limited voted by 95% in favour of taking strike action on a 91% turnout, according to the trade union.

The workers previously rejected the pay offer by 96%, with Unite adding that OCS has failed to present a better deal.

The employees’ tasks include helping passengers who use wheelchairs and ambulift vehicles.

A spokesman for Glasgow airport said talks between OCS and Unite are “ongoing”, adding that contingency plans are being worked on to ensure passengers are not affected by any industrial action.

The first strike will start on Thursday, July 6, at 4am and end on Friday, July 7, at 3.59am, with the second running from Tuesday, July 11, at 4am and continuing until Wednesday, July 12, at 3.59am.

Graham said: “The emphatic mandate in support of strike action should send a clear message to OCS – it’s time they put an increased offer on the table in new negotiations. Unite will always stand up for our members fighting for better pay, terms and conditions.”

Unite industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “The OCS Group have point-blank refused to make our members a reasonable offer or to in fact increase their original offer of £10.90 an hour.

“Unite has repeatedly asked for meetings with the company to discuss the pay dispute because what’s currently on the table is totally unacceptable to our members.

“It’s very disappointing that strike action will now take place in July when we have settled a number of good wage deals through negotiation with other companies based at Glasgow airport.

“Our members have been left with no choice but to take this step. It will undoubtedly hit the summer schedule at Glasgow airport and the blame for any disruption will be entirely the company’s.”

Last week, Unite said around 50 Falck firefighters at Glasgow airport would be receiving an annual pay increase worth £3,262 on average.

A further 100 workers employed by Glasgow Airport Limited will receive a 7% increase on basic salary rates and allowances along with a £1,000 one-off payment, the union said, while around 250 workers at ICTS Central Search, also based in Glasgow airport, will receive a phased increase worth up to 11 per cent.

Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation will receive up to 11% on basic pay, Unite added.

Travel Weekly has contacted OCS Group UK Limited for comment.

Photo: Glasgow airport in 2014. (Credit: Emirates EK27/Martin Urq/Wikimedia Commons.)