Glasgow Airport strikes to go ahead at end of July

About 100 workers at Glasgow Airport are set to go on strike for 48 hours in a dispute over pay.

Unite the union said its members, which include airside support officers, engineers and managers, plan to walk out between 06:00 on 24 July and 05:59 on 26 July.

The industrial action comes during the traditional Glasgow Fair fortnight and the airport's busy summer months.

Glasgow Airport said it was disappointed by the move and will now proceed with contingency plans to minimise any disruption for passengers.

These are the first summer holidays since the airport was bought over by AviAlliance.

The company completed a deal to buy AGS - the owners of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports - in January for £1.53bn.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Summer strike action is now inevitable unless Glasgow Airport's owners come to their senses.

"We will support our members every step of the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

A further 350 security and ground handling staff, who are not directly employed by the airport, have also been involved in separate pay disputes.

Unite said that 250 of these workers - who deal with passengers in the security search area and are employed by a firm called ICTS - have now accepted a 5% pay offer.

A further 100 ground handling workers, employed by Swissport, are considering a new pay deal.

A spokesperson for AGS Airports, which owns and manages Glasgow Airport, said: "We are extremely disappointed with Unite's decision to serve notice of industrial action.

"We have been in talks with Unite since March during which time we have made several improved and fair offers against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment.

"We will now proceed with our contingency plans to ensure we minimise any disruption for our airlines and passengers."

The spokesperson said its latest 4% pay offer was rejected by 75 members of staff at the airport.