Holidaymakers might face a summer season of chaos as airport employees vote to strike

The Unite union has warned that passengers might face a summer season of chaos as airport employees have voted for strike motion over a pay dispute.

Unite stated that 85% of their members voted for strike motion and had a 75% turnout and safety and terminal operators at Edinburgh Airport are set to stroll out.

Employees at Edinburgh Airport rejected the pay supply which was made to workers at Gatwick for a £1,500 one off money cost and a 12% improve that was accepted.

Edinburgh Airport provided Unite members a 11% pay rise and a £1,000 money supply for the price of dwelling.

An Edinburgh Airport spokesman stated: “It is a disappointing choice from Unite, particularly after we met the ask of our unions – an 11% pay rise together with a £1,000 cost-of-living cost. We’ve made an improved supply to workers, with a 50% improve within the cost-of-living cost proposed. This has not but been balloted on.

“Unite is insistent on evaluating this supply to the one made at Gatwick however the essential context lacking from that comparability pushed by Unite is that this 11% improve at Edinburgh Airport could be the third pay rise given to the workforce since 2020, representing an total improve of 19.6%. In distinction, that is the primary supply made by Gatwick in the identical time-frame – a degree Unite purposefully fails to notice.

“We’ve proposed a deal that’s effectively above what has been provided to many different employees in Scotland and is effectively above inflation. We nonetheless have severe issues concerning the integrity of the unique poll and the variety of members that voted – issues Unite have failed to handle.

“We’ve made each try and avert industrial motion and to agree a well-deserved pay rise for all of our hardworking staff, not simply the minority who’re Unite members. We stay open to negotiating in good religion with our unions and have agreed to take part in future talks.”

Unite basic secretary Sharon Graham stated: “Unite’s members at Edinburgh Airport have emphatically backed strike motion. The pay supply on the desk is nowhere close to adequate and airport bosses realize it.

“A practical pay supply must be placed on the desk which values our members in the identical manner as our members at Gatwick Airport.

“Unite will all the time assist our members within the struggle for higher jobs, pay and circumstances.”