Aberdeen Airport security staff strike causes 14-day delays

Travelers using Aberdeen Airport this summer are being warned to expect significant delays and disruption due to a 14-day strike by security staff, set to begin on Monday, July 6. The industrial action involves members of the Unite union employed by ICTS HBS Security, who make up the majority of the airport's baggage screening team.

The strike dates are scheduled across July and into August, with walkouts planned every second day throughout July and on August 1. The action comes after negotiations between the union and the security contractor, facilitated by the conciliation service Acas, failed to produce an acceptable pay offer. The union stated its members were left with no alternative.

Unite officials have warned that the reduction in security staffing will lead to longer queues, slower screening times, and considerable unpredictability for passengers during the peak summer holiday period. Schools in the Aberdeen area began their summer break on July 2, typically a time of increased air travel.

In statements, union leaders placed the blame squarely on the employer. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham asserted that ICTS is a very profitable company that can easily afford a...