Nearly 900 airport workers across Scotland’s three main airports are voting on industrial action that could disrupt summer travel during the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, Unite the Union has confirmed.
Strike ballots covering staff at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen airports opened this week, with the union warning that any action would coincide with peak holiday season and major sporting events between July and August.
Who Is Involved?
The ballots involve multiple employers across Scotland’s busiest airports. Around 500 Unite members at Edinburgh Airport are being balloted, including approximately 370 workers employed directly by Edinburgh Airport Limited—among them airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, and managers.
A further 280 ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow have rejected pay offers. These workers, who include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents, and controllers, provide essential support for major carriers including British Airways, American Airlines, United, Emirates, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, and Loganair.
Around 240 security staff employed by ICTS at Aberdeen and Glasgow airports are also being balloted. These workers process passengers through security search areas—a critical chokepoint that, if disrupted, could have immediate consequences for departures.
Timing Could Hardly Be Worse
Four of the ballots close on 21st May, with a fifth—for ICTS staff at Aberdeen—running until 28th May. If members vote for action, strikes could begin during the busiest weeks of the summer, clashing with the FIFA World Cup in the United States and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which run from 23rd July to 2nd August.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue said any strike action would ground planes and passengers during an exceptionally busy period. She added that the blame would lie entirely with what she described as extremely wealthy companies that could resolve disputes immediately.
Profits vs Pay
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused the employers of prioritising profits over fair pay. She pointed out that Edinburgh Airport Limited posted profits of £144.4 million for the year ending 2024, up from £88.2 million in 2023, whilst ICTS (UK) Limited recorded profits of £7.6 million in 2025, up from £4.4 million the previous year.
However, Edinburgh Airport has defended its position, stating that it has proposed a deal well above inflation and above what has been offered to many other workers in Scotland. A spokesperson said pay for colleagues has already increased by 24.6 per cent cumulatively since 2023, outpacing inflation, and noted the airport faces an unplanned 142 per cent increase in business rates—an additional £8 million in costs.
What This Means for Travellers
For passengers, the potential disruption comes at a time when capacity at Scottish airports is already tight due to sporting demand stacking on top of the traditional summer leisure peak. Any walkouts involving ground handling, engineering, or security staff would be likely to trigger cancellations, lengthy queues, and widespread delays.
Negotiations between the union and employers remain ongoing, and a Glasgow Airport spokesperson said last week they were keen to ensure dialogue results in a positive resolution. But with ballot deadlines fast approaching, time is running out to avert disruption that could affect thousands of travellers across Scotland and beyond.
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