Unite the union announced that its Aberdeen Airport membership rejected the most recent pay offer from airport management and voted to go ahead with more strikes this week.
62.8 per cent of union members (turnout was 96 per cent) voted to reject the latest pay offer, with 71.5 per cent voting to reject the pension proposal and continue the strike action.
“Unite took the latest pay offer back to our membership at Aberdeen Airport to let them decide on the course of action,” said Shauna Wright, Unite regional industrial officer.
“It was vital that our members had the opportunity to consider and respond to Aberdeen Airport and the AGS Group. The message our members have sent could not be any clearer or any louder.”
AGS Airports Limited, which owns Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports, has refused to reopen the consultation on closing the pension scheme, breaking an Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) agreement made in 2016 to keep the scheme open to existing members.
The pay offer for 2019 removed the bonus plan, remaining at the basic 3 per cent with a new one off payment of £600 for full time employees. The airport proposed an annual pay offer for next year identical to the retail price index figure in January 2020.
Unite expressed concerns over airport security following revelations in the media which highlighted breaches by contingency staff brought in during previous strike action at Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports.
“Let’s hope this second strong mandate shows Aberdeen Airport’s management that they need to come back around the table with an offer Unite can support so that we can find a remedy to this dispute,” said Wright.
“Unite’s members have democratically voted to continue strike action and this action will continue unless they receive a significantly better offer.
“We will wait to hear from airport management on whether they wish to get back round the negotiating table or whether they are more interested in needlessly escalating this dispute.”
Strike action will now go ahead at Aberdeen Airport on 27 and 28 June – both commencing at 06:00 and running through to 10:00.
