**Security Staff at Aberdeen Airport to Strike Over Pay Dispute**
Security personnel at Aberdeen Airport are set to commence a 14-day strike starting Monday, following a breakdown in negotiations regarding pay with their employer, ICTS HBS Security. The decision for industrial action comes after the Unite union reported that discussions mediated by the conciliation service Acas did not yield a satisfactory resolution.
The strike, which will involve baggage screening staff, is expected to lead to significant delays at the airport, as these workers represent the majority of the security team responsible for screening baggage. The union has urged ICTS to return to the negotiating table to avert the impending disruption.
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, criticized ICTS for prioritizing profits over employee welfare, asserting that the company is financially capable of providing a reasonable pay increase. She stated, "ICTS is a very profitable company that can easily afford to give our members a decent pay increase. It has been caught red-handed putting profits before people."
The union's industrial officer, Paula Buchan, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the ongoing dispute could lead to severe operational disruptions at the airport. "ICTS would rather cause massive disruption at the airport than positively work with Unite to resolve this dispute," she remarked. Buchan also highlighted that there is still an opportunity for ICTS to engage in meaningful discussions and present an acceptable offer to the workers.
The announcement of the strike action follows a period of successful negotiations that averted summer strikes at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, where new pay agreements were reached. The Unite union has recently managed to resolve two separate pay disputes involving ICTS workers at Aberdeen Airport, indicating a proactive approach to labor relations.
As the strike date approaches, both Aberdeen Airport and ICTS HBS Security have been contacted for comments regarding the situation. The outcome of this industrial action could have significant implications for airport operations and passenger travel in the coming weeks.