Edinburgh Airport response to Unite media release, May 25, 2023

On 25 May, 2023 trade union Unite issued a media release titled:

'Edinburgh Airport workers emphatically support strike action: Unite warns of travel 'chaos' during summer unless improved offer brought forward by airport management'

Edinburgh Airport's response to this media release, and the claims made within, can be found below.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “This is a disappointing decision from Unite, especially after we met the ask of our unions - an 11% pay rise along with a £1,000 cost of living payment. We have made an improved offer to staff, with a 50% increase in the cost of living payment proposed.  This has not yet been balloted on.

“Unite is insistent on comparing this offer to the one made at Gatwick but the important context missing from that comparison pushed by Unite is that this 11% increase at Edinburgh Airport would be the third pay rise given to the team at since 2020, representing an overall increase of 19.6%. In contrast, this is the first offer made by Gatwick in the same timeframe – a point Unite purposefully fails to note.

“We have proposed a deal that is well above what has been offered to many other workers in Scotland and is well above inflation.  We still have serious concerns about the integrity of the original ballot and the number of members that voted – concerns Unite have failed to address.

“We have made every attempt to avert industrial action and to agree a well-deserved pay rise for all of our hardworking employees, not just the minority who are Unite members. We remain open to negotiating in good faith with our unions and have agreed to participate in future talks.”