Work is underway to ensure people with mobility problems can access aeroplanes this summer as workers at Glasgow Airport prepare to strike.
Staff at OCS – the company charged with helping people with mobility problems navigate the airport and get seated on planes – will undertake a 24-hour strike next month as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
The industrial action will run from 4am on July 6 til 03.59am on July 7.
And if an acceptable pay offer is not tabled, a second strike will commence at 4am on July 11.
Glasgow Airport said it is urgently working with OCS to create contingency plans to ensure any impact on passengers with mobility problems is minimal.
The strike at the Paisley transport hub was confirmed by Unite the union, who said OCS workers would not accept a “poverty pay”.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s OCS members are rightly taking a stand against what we have already described as a poverty pay offer.
“Unite will always challenge this. The emphatic mandate in support of strike action should send a clear message to OCS - it’s time they put an increased offer on the table in new negotiations.”
The union said around 70 members employed by OCS voted by 95 per cent in favour of taking strike action on a 91 per cent turnout.
They had previously turned down an offer that would have taken basic pay to £10.90 per hour. There has been no improved pay offer to date by OCS.
Pat McIlvogue, Unite industrial officer, added: “The OCS Group have point blank refused to make our members a reasonable offer or to in fact increase their original offer of £10.90 an hour.
“Unite has repeatedly asked for meetings with the company to discuss the pay dispute because what’s currently on the table is totally unacceptable to our members.
“It’s very disappointing that strike action will now take place in July when we have settled a number of good wage deals through negotiation with other companies based at Glasgow Airport.
“Our members have been left with no choice but to take this step. It will undoubtedly hit the summer schedule at Glasgow Airport and the blame for any disruption will be entirely the company’s.”
A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: “Discussions between special assistance service provider OCS and Unite are ongoing.
“We are speaking with OCS to ensure contingency plans are in place so that those passengers who require additional support are not affected by any proposed industrial action.”
Unite has already ended pay disputes with a number of companies who provide services to or on behalf of the airport including Falck firefighters, ICTS Central Search and Menzies and the airport itself.
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