Key Points
- Around 170 ICTS security workers at Glasgow Airport are being balloted for strike action over pay.
- The ballot opened on 1 May and closes on 21 May, with any industrial action likely to begin during the peak summer travel period if workers back it.
- Unite says the latest pay offer from ICTS is unacceptable and claims the company can afford to improve it.
- Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said ICTS is a highly profitable company and should make a decent pay offer.
- Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue said the airport cannot operate without the workers involved in the dispute.
- The workers cover central search areas, passenger screening, mobile patrols, access control posts, deliveries, and emergency-service coordination.
- Unite says the timing could affect a very busy summer period, including major sporting events in Glasgow.
Could Glasgow (Glasgow Express) April 30, 2026
Glasgow, International Airport Review, 30 April 2026 – Glasgow Airport could face disruption during the summer travel season after around 170 ICTS security workers were balloted for strike action in a pay dispute, with Unite warning that any walkout could hit passenger processing and airport operations at a busy time.
What is the dispute about?
The dispute centres on pay, after ICTS security workers at Glasgow Airport rejected what Unite described as an unacceptable offer. The ballot began on 1 May and is due to close on 21 May, meaning the result will determine whether the dispute moves to industrial action. At present, no strike dates have been confirmed.
Who are the workers involved?
The workers are employed by ICTS and carry out security-related duties in the airport’s central search areas. Their roles include processing passengers through security screening, mobile patrols, access control, screening deliveries, and working with emergency services. Unite says those jobs are central to the airport’s day-to-day operation.
What has Unite said?
As reported by the International Airport Review, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said ICTS is a highly profitable company and can afford to improve its offer.
The union also said it had warned ICTS that workers deserved a significantly better deal. According to Unite industrial officer Carrie Donoghue, the airport
What is the company position?
The published reports say ICTS has been approached for comment. The material available does not include a response from the company in the extracted content, so its position on the ballot cannot be confirmed from the sources used here.
The reports also do not provide details of any revised offer beyond Unite’s description of the latest one as unacceptable.
Why does the timing matter?
Unite has linked the ballot to the expected summer rush, saying the dispute could escalate during a very busy travel period. The union also pointed to major sporting events in Glasgow as a reason the issue could have wider knock-on effects for passengers.
That makes the outcome of the ballot important not only for workers, but also for travellers using one of Scotland’s busiest airports.
Background of the development
Pay disputes at Glasgow Airport have already been a recurring issue in recent periods, with Unite previously warning about the risk of industrial action among airport workers over wages and conditions.
Earlier reporting in 2025 showed separate groups of workers at the airport had voted in favour of strike action, and the airport said it would try to minimise disruption. The present ICTS ballot continues that wider pattern of industrial tension around pay at the airport.
Prediction for passengers
If the ballot returns a yes vote and industrial action follows, passengers could face slower security processing, longer queues, and possible delays during peak summer travel. The biggest impact would likely fall on holidaymakers, event travellers, and anyone passing through Glasgow Airport at the busiest times of day. If no strike is called, the dispute may still influence staffing morale and future negotiations.
