More than 2,000 workers employed by Manchester Airport have accepted a pay deal worth up to 17% over two years and a lump sum worth up to 9.6%.
Covering firefighters, security, engineering, airfield operations, traffic marshals and car parking based at the airport, the deal was negotiated by trade union Unite without the need for a strike ballot.
The pay deal includes a 6% increase to base salaries and associated core allowances followed by a 2% rise from 1 October 2023, a £1,250 non-consolidated one-off cash lump sum payment, a further 5% increase to base salaries and associated core allowances from 1 April 2024, and a commitment to introduce a bonus incentive scheme payable in line with scheme rules in 2024.
In addition, airport employees can now increase their pension contributions to 4% and if they do so, their employer will contribute 8%. As of 1 April 2024, staff have the choice to increase their pension contributions to 6%, with the airport contributing 10%.
The union also successfully negotiated a further five years of protection for airport workers who were members of the employer’s defined benefit pension scheme. Employees earning the national minimum wage will also receive a 4% increase to the employers’ pension contributions over two years, as well as rises in salary on top of the national minimum wage.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “We are pleased to have agreed a pay deal that benefits all our staff covered by the collective bargaining agreement at Manchester Airport. Our people are at the core of everything we do here at Manchester Airport and we’re absolutely committed to energising and inspiring people and continuously improving the employee experience.”
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, added: “Unite’s relentless focus on the workplace continues to put more money in workers’ pockets. The negotiations at Manchester Airport has also protected the defined benefit pension scheme for another five years.”
Manchester Airport offers its employees a cycle to work scheme, rail discounts, an employee assistance programme, life cover, discounts on a varied selection of products, an allocated parking space in the car park, free holiday parking and 50% off parking for two trips per year for friends and family.