Passengers flying out of Aberdeen Airport can breathe a collective sigh of relief this weekend after 14 days of planned strike action by security staff were called off, following a last-minute pay agreement.
The strikes, which were due to begin on Monday and involved baggage screening staff employed by ICTS HBS Security, had threatened to cause what Unite union described as “significant delays”. The union said it had been left with no option after negotiations through the conciliation service Acas failed to produce a breakthrough.
“Security staff at Aberdeen Airport cancelled 14 days of strike action after a pay agreement was reached.”
But on Friday evening, ICTS confirmed that an agreement had been reached, and the industrial action – unanimously backed by Unite members – would not go ahead. “We’re pleased to confirm that an agreement with our colleagues working within hold baggage screening at Aberdeen airport has been reached,” said an ICTS spokesman. “We have been informed that the proposed industrial action will now not take place.”
Aberdeen Airport said it had “robust contingency measures” and had not expected any impact even if the strikes had gone ahead. The deal comes after similar summer strikes at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports were averted earlier this year, following separate pay settlements. Unite also recently resolved two other pay disputes at Aberdeen involving ICTS central search staff and Aberdeen Airport Limited workers.
For now, the departure screens at Aberdeen will stay clear of strike-related disruption – but the union’s warning that it was left with no choice demonstrates how close the airport came to another round of travel chaos.