Two-year increase for ABM staff averts strike action

Workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility at Glasgow Airport have backed a two-year pay deal, resulting in industrial action being averted. 

Over 100 Unite members employed by ABM at Glasgow airport have secured a 7.5 per cent increase this year backdated to April with the same increase being applied to the night shift rate.   

The threat of industrial action led to the company increasing its offer from six per cent. The workers will now receive £13.77 an hour, 32 pence above the Scottish Living Wage level (£13.45). Next year, the same increase of 32 pence above the living wage level will be applied to all pay rates. 

Unite members had previously backed strike action in an industrial action ballot which concluded at the end of August. The workers include customer service agents, ambilift drivers and allocators.  

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members were determined to get a fair increase from ABM. The threat of strikes ensured an acceptable pay offer was finally tabled. It’s another win for our members across Glasgow airport.” 

Unite has been running a long-standing campaign to have basic pay levels sustained above the living wage level at Glasgow airport across all employers. ABM Aviation made profits of nearly £7m after tax in 2025, improving on the £5.95m made in the previous year. 

Carrie Donoghue, Unite industrial officer, said: “Unite was absolutely focused on delivering a pay increase for our AMB membership significantly above the Scottish living wage.”  

“We have secured a good result. This was only achieved after our members said that they would be prepared to take strike action.”  

ENDS  

Notes to Editor 

In June, nearly 400 workers employed by ICTS and Menzies Aviation backed pay offers which were successfully negotiated by Unite at Glasgow airport lifting the threat of summer strike action.   

For media enquiries please contact Andrew Brady on 07810157922.Email andrew.brady@unitetheunion.org 

Unite Scotland is the country’s biggest and most diverse trade union with around 150,000 members.