Union warns summer holiday strike action looms at airports

Strike action during the summer holidays is looming over Scotland's two largest airports amid a row over pay, a union has warned.

Unite said ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected "unacceptable" separate pay offers from the company. The union warned that unless a better offer is tabled, it will have no option but to ballot members for industrial action.

Menzies Aviation said it remains "committed to seeking a resolution" and has invited Unite to continue discussions this week in a bid to reach an agreement. Unite said around 300 Menzies Aviation workers, 97% of those balloted, rejected a basic uplift offer worth around 4.25% at Glasgow Airport, while at Edinburgh Airport, 100% of some 300 workers balloted rejected an offer worth around 4%.

Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: "Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough. "Menzies Aviation has the ability to improve its offers and they can easily resolve this pay dispute without any disruption to the travelling public.

"If the company fail to table a better offer to our members, Unite will have no option but to ballot our members for strikes over the summer holidays." Read more from Sky News:Liverpool parade: Everything we know so farMan charged with attempted murder of police officer The union said the workers - which includes dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers - provide essential support for a host of major airlines. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite's Menzies members have emphatically rejected unacceptable pay offers.

"The Menzies group is posting sky-high profits and our members who contribute towards this success deserve far better from the company." Phil Lloyd, senior vice president UK at Menzies Aviation, said the firm remains "committed to seeking a resolution". He added: "We have invited Unite to return to the table to continue discussions this week and hope to reach an agreement which is workable for both the business and our employees at both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"We will continue to work to pursue an agreeable solution to protect services for our airline and airport partners and their customers.".