Unite secures over 9% pay rise for Glasgow ICTS baggage screeners amid ongoing airport disputes and planned strike

Unite the union has secured a significant new pay deal for around 50 ICTS hold baggage screeners at Glasgow Airport (GLA), lifting basic pay by 9.8% backdated to October 2024. The agreement increases the hourly rate by £1.28 to £14.33, with double pay guaranteed for shifts on Christmas or New Year’s Day. A £500 one-off bonus also forms part of the package, bringing the total value of the offer to 11.6%.

Details on Glasgow Airport 

The screeners are responsible for vital security functions including x-ray screening of hold baggage, documentation checks, and maintaining the baggage system. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has delivered another good deal for ICTS baggage screeners at Glasgow airport. It builds on years of wage wins for our members and it’s another demonstration that Unite is delivering better jobs, pay and conditions for our members.”

Unite highlighted a series of historic pay increases for ICTS workers in recent years. In 2022, wages were lifted from £8.95 to £11.50 per hour, a 28.5% rise, with the latest agreement pushing that increase beyond 60% since negotiations began.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite regional industrial officer, added: “Unite has successfully lifted the basic hourly wage of our members at ICTS by over 60 per cent in the last few years. This has been achieved through successful negotiations. The deal demonstrates what can be achieved by working together.”

The deal is part of a broader push by Unite to raise pay across Scottish airports. Last week, the union secured wage wins for 100 North Air workers and over 140 ABM and OCS staff at Glasgow Airport. Meanwhile, a pay dispute involving 600 Menzies Aviation ground crew at Edinburgh airport and Glasgow airports continues to escalate, with the threat of summer strike action looming.

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