Scores of holidaymakers have had their plans thrown into turmoil after workers at the north-east’s biggest airport “overwhelmingly” rejected an increased pay deal aimed at averting a strike.
About 170 employees at Aberdeen International Airport have vowed to walk out for 24 hours on Friday, and twice again next month, after turning down a new pay offer.
Following hours of negotiations on Monday, airport chiefs tabled an increased pay rise in the hopes of preventing operations at the facility from being plunged into disarray.
The renewed offer of a 2.8% pay rise was discussed amongst employees throughout yesterday before a consensus was reached, and union bosses have confirmed that furious members had deemed the offer “pitiful”.
Unite the Union regional officer Tommy Campbell said much of the workers’ discontent was based upon not being given the same 3% increase as their counterparts in Glasgow.
Mr Campbell said: “The latest pitiful effort to end this dispute has been overwhelmingly rejected.
“The management seem intent on causing widespread disruption to their operations — and the public — by not being prepared to give our members the same pay award as the workforce at
Glasgow International Airport, which is owned by the same parent company.
“The workers and the public will be baffled as to why airport management are refusing to pay an extra 0.2% to end this. Unite remains open to discussions if the company start to behave responsibly. If they do not, then our members will have no option but to proceed with industrial action.”
However, a spokesman for the airport said bosses “remain optimistic” matters can be resolved without any disruption. He said: “Talks concluded in a positive place on Monday following a much improved offer and we are disappointed to have had our latest proposal rejected. We are in ongoing discussions with Unite and remain optimistic we will resolve matters without any impact on operations.”
Affected workers include those in security and airfield operations, airside services, firefighters, operations officers and passenger service agents.
The strikes are planned for this Friday as well as August 2 and Thursday August 16.
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