Turners drivers strike in December affecting Glasgow Airport flights

Flights might be affected <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Flights might be affected (Image: Newsquest)
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Travellers have been warned that planned strikes could affect flights leaving Glasgow airport. 

Strike action by Grangemouth-based tanker drivers working for Turners (Soham) Limited will affect fuel supplies to airlines at Glasgow airports.

The dispute involves drivers who deliver fuel and will impact airports on December 11 and 12, as well as during the busy holiday period on December 22 and 23.

The strike is the latest in a pay dispute that has already led to previous walkouts in October and November.

Talks involving the union Unite, Turners, and the conciliation service Acas have failed to break the deadlock.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Turners continues to treat its highly skilled drivers with contempt because that’s what their miserly pay offer amounts to.

"Turners is a very profitable company, yet it thinks its drivers deserve a real terms pay cut.

"That’s unacceptable. Unite will back our members at Turners all the way in their fight to secure better jobs, pay and conditions."

Turners has offered drivers a two-year pay deal that would amount to a 1% increase in 2025, with a further rise in 2026 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate in January of that year.

Unite has criticised the offer, arguing that it amounts to a real-terms pay cut given the current inflation rate.

Inflation measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI) currently stands at 4.3%.

The company reported after-tax profits of £51.42 million in 2024, up from £51.06 million the previous year.

Unite industrial officer Lyn Turner said: "The Grangemouth drivers’ dispute is a result of Turners making huge profits, but it believes our members should not share in the financial success that they have created.

"Strike action will continue throughout December, and we will have no option but to continue fuel supply disruption to airlines based at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports into the New Year.

"Turners should be under no illusions that our members will not give up, and they will not give in."

Turners have been approached for comment.

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