Edinburgh Airport workers call off strike threat

Edinburgh Airport staff who aid passengers with reduced mobility have called off a strike after a new pay deal was agreed.

OCS Group workers at Edinburgh Airport had threatened to walk out across the month of September after rejecting an initial offer of £12.60 per hour.

The action was suspended at the start of the month after the company tabled a new agreement, which has now been accepted by members of the Unite union.

A spokesperson for the union said they had secured a “significant improvement” in terms.

OCS staff are responsible for helping passengers with mobility issues to get on and off flights.

They also assist in the operation of ambulift vehicles, which load those in wheelchairs or other mobility aids onto aircraft.

More than 100 passenger assistants employed by the firm backed strike action in a ballot last month.

They described the offer made by OCS as “poverty pay” and scheduled a series of 48-hour stoppages over a month-long period.

However, those were withdrawn after new terms – which included a 6.1% increase to the hourly rate, backdated to 1 January, 2025 – were tabled.

The offer also included a further 5% pay increase from 1 January next year alongside improvements to the company’s sick pay scheme and overtime rate.

Unite said that offer had now been accepted and future threats of strike action withdrawn.

Unite industrial officer, Carrie Binnie, said: “The accepted offer represents a significant improvement to terms and conditions on where the negotiations began with OCS.

“We are pleased to have delivered a good pay deal which provides a timely boost to our members.”

OCS Group has been contacted for comment.