A LEADING union has slammed outsourced security bosses at Glasgow Airport, branding their redundancy process a “shambles”.

Unite the Union, which represent workers at the transport hub, has hit out at ICTS, claiming employees were issued with termination of employment letters via e-mail before undergoing any redundancy consultations. 

The allegations come after we previously reported the workforce could be cut by up to 40%.

Unite claimed a voluntary redundancy scheme was in place, which the union had pushed for in order to stop the need for any compulsory redundancies. 

However, the union has criticised the move from ICTS, claiming that due to receiving too many applications, the company then moved to a controversial points based selection in order to select people for compulsory redundancies. 

Unite’s industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “The whole process appears to be a shambles, which from Unite’s perspective will lead to low staff morale and result in ICTS not being able to fulfil its operational requirements once air travel begins to significantly increase from next spring.”

The contract for security and fire services was outsourced to ICTS last year.
ICTS confirmed the ongoing redundancy process. 

A spokeswoman said: “The impact of coronavirus on the aviation industry is severe and the speed of recovery continues to be uncertain. 

“Throughout this crisis our priority has been to maintain as many jobs as possible. However, we now have no option but to reduce our workforce and consultations with our staff at the airport are ongoing.”

Passenger numbers at the airport have fallen by 96% this year due to the pandemic.  

A spokesman at Glasgow Airport said: “The aviation industry is currently experiencing the worst downturn in its long history. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost and many more still remain at risk.”