EXCLUSIVE: A union has previously registered a commerce dispute with Manchester Airports Group
Manchester Airport might face strike motion from employees embroiled in a dispute over pay, until a deal might be reached and agreed with a union, the Manchester Night Information can reveal.
It’s understood any poll would contain tons of of staff employed by Manchester Airports Group (MAG).
The union has now formally registered a commerce dispute with the airport, the M.E.N. understands. In a press release on Wednesday (November 5), Unite mentioned its members on the airport have been ‘quickly making ready for industrial motion for the primary time in a long time’.
The airport, nevertheless, mentioned it was ‘dedicated to an open dialogue’ with its workforce and their unions – and to ‘ongoing discussions’ with them within the coming days.
It’s understood roles lined on the airport embody bus drivers, safety employees, meet and greet personnel and visitors marshals, firefighters, airfield operations, engineering and automobile park employees, in addition to these employed by MAG fulfilling different roles there.
Be part of the Manchester Night Information WhatsApp group HERE
A consultative poll ended on Monday, the outcomes of which delivered sturdy help for industrial motion after Unite members rejected a pay provide placed on the desk for 2025/26, the M.E.N. understands.
The precise numbers of members who voted, nevertheless, have not been revealed. It means an official poll for industrial motion might now comply with, until settlement might be reached. No timescales have been revealed.
The M.E.N. additionally understands the union and its members are additionally sad with points over an settlement relating to job safety and employment safety.
It is understood the pay provide was multifaceted and depending on employment grading. The airport mentioned its pay deal provide was ‘above CPI inflation’ and over two years, along with different advantages.
Manchester Airports Group is the UK’s largest airports group and collectively owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports.
One airport employee employed by MAG, talking anonymously, claimed staff at Stansted had been supplied a greater cope with a better annual pay improve and one-off funds.
The member of employees mentioned: “The airport has bother on its arms. It’s each division of the airport with staff employed by MAG. Staff at each division I’ve spoken to have mentioned they’ve rejected the provide.”
MAG, nevertheless, mentioned its airports have been handled individually and every have their very own pay agreements depending on a variety of things, saying any comparability was ‘unhelpful’.
It is understood Unite is now checking membership particulars earlier than the primary authorized steps to launch a poll for industrial motion start. Any intention to poll members for motion must be communicated to MAG individually.
The information follows bus strikes in Higher Manchester and ongoing industrial motion being taken by union members working for Transport for Higher Manchester, in what are, and have been, totally separate disputes.
A Unite spokesperson instructed the Manchester Night Information: “Manchester Airport has had each alternative to make a good provide to its devoted workforce, however regardless of its excessive stage of earnings it has refused to take action. Unite is asking for enough job safety and expertise agreements in addition to a good pay provide for the airport’s loyal and devoted staff.
“MAG’s refusal to supply an enough job safety/job safety settlement to its staff at Manchester Airport is in stark distinction to colleagues at MAG’s Stansted Airport, who’re protected underneath a long-established job safety settlement.
“Our members have had sufficient and at the moment are quickly making ready for industrial motion for the primary time in a long time. The employer wants to know the extent of anger amongst its staff and return to the negotiating desk with a vastly improved and honest provide together with an acceptable and enough employment safety settlement.”
A Manchester Airport spokesperson mentioned: “Manchester Airport values all its colleagues and recognises the superb work they do every single day to make sure our 31 million passengers every year are capable of journey to the locations they wish to go.
“That’s the reason we have now supplied them a pay deal that’s above CPI inflation and provides them the safety of understanding what they’ll earn – and the way it will improve – over the subsequent two years, amongst different advantages. We’re conscious that some colleagues who’re members of the Unite and Unison unions and took half of their current poll on this subject rejected that deal.
“We’re dedicated to an open dialogue with all colleagues and to ongoing discussions with our recognised commerce unions within the coming days. All MAG airports have their very own pay agreements. They’re negotiated over completely different intervals and mirror a variety of domestically related elements. Due to this fact, comparisons between completely different airport pay offers are unhelpful.”
