Unions: Airports knew about strike day scanner fears three weeks ago

Concerns were raised over baggage security with airport regulators three weeks ago, we can reveal.

We told last week how workers standing in for striking staff at Scottish airports missed more than 260 potential threatening items in just two days.

So-called contingency staff, drafted in to operate baggage X-ray scanners at Glasgow and Aberdeen airports during industrial action, failed to spot suspicious images such as guns and knives generated to test operators.

Union Unite says it continues to have major concerns over security risks at the airports.

Stand-in staff at the airports are being provided by the UK subsidiary of Dutch-owned firm ICTS.

The union wrote in a letter to the Civil Aviation Authority on June 5: “We understand ICTS are being used to provide labour. They have very limited experience in passenger screening within the UK and none at the affected airports.”

A spokesman added: “We have major concerns the standards our members adhere to on a daily basis are not being adhered to.

“This includes everything from items being missed on security scanners to fire cover being provided by outside workers.”

An ICTS spokeswoman: said “We are unable to make comment on any matter relating to the security practices of our clients.”

A spokesman for Glasgow and Aberdeen airport owner AGS Airports said: “All our contingency teams are trained and certified to the same UK standards as our own staff.”

Further pay talks are due to take place tomorrow.

Seven new July strike dates were announced yesterday for Glasgow Airport. Unite said the action would take place on July 3 and 5 then each day from July 11 to 15.

Mark Johnston, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “This is to allow for ­further talks to take place on Monday, July 1 during which I hope we can reach a resolution.”

The CAA did not respond to a request for comment.