Glasgow Prestwick Airport workers to cancel strike after improved offer
Strikes due to start on August 12 will be cancelled if the new offer is accepted in a re-ballot.
Workers at Prestwick Airport look set to permanently cancel their strike action after an improved pay offer was put forward by bosses.
Unite the Union members working at Glasgow Prestwick were due to go on strike last week (Friday 5 August), but announced a delay on the disruptive action while they waited to hear the new pay offer.
Talks between the union and the airport bosses appear to have gone well, and it is expected Unite workers will vote in favour of accepting the improved offer in a re-ballot this week.
Should the offer be accepted, strikes which were due to begin on Friday 12 August, and last for a period of 4-days per week for a month will be cancelled.
A spokesperson from Glasgow Prestwick Airport said: “We are pleased to confirm strike action has been postponed after Unite agreed to put an improved pay offer in a re-ballot to their members.
“As a result of additional grant funding identified by Unite, which enables us to free up some of our allocated training budget, we have been able to top up our offer to ensure all employees earning £30,000 or less will receive at least a 6.5% salary increase."
READ MORE: Glasgow Prestwick airport workers vote in favour of strike action
The union had previously said they were angry about having to take a real-terms pay cut amid record inflation.
They said with the Retail Prices Index standing at 11.7 per cent, the previous offer on the table for the workforce to receive between 4% and 6.5% was "a significant real terms pay cut".
One of the other main improvements they were looking for was an increased rate of shift allowance for workers.
The specific rate of shift allowance, however, is still be released as airport bosses only said there are ‘improvements to allowances’ in the latest offer.
Their spokesperson continued: “This is a positive step forward at what has been a difficult time for our staff and brings us closer to achieving a resolution that will enable our 300-plus employees to receive the pay offer, which also includes the real living wage for all employees, up to 2% more employer pension contributions, improvements to allowances, increased annual leave entitlement, enhanced sick pay provisions and a one off payment of £250 to help with the growing cost of living,”
Unite the Union have been contacted for comment, and West FM will have the latest once the re-ballot has taken place.