Unite pushes to be part of discussions for East Midlands Airport expansion
May 23, 2025
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has welcomed expansion plans at East Midlands Airport (EMA), but is asking to be included in ongoing discussions to ensure well paid, unionised jobs.
The airport’s proposal to unlock over 50 hectares of airfield land development to create more parking and warehouse space at the Leicestershire airport could generate £3.9 billion for the economy and create more than 20,000 jobs by 2043.
While Unite supports the plans, the union’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “In order to benefit the local community all new jobs must be well-paid, unionised and permanent.”
Graham’s call was reiterated by Unite regional secretary Paresh Patel, who said: “Unite must be part of ongoing discussions for any expansion at East Midlands Airport to ensure that any jobs created including in construction are unionised, well paid and come with excellent terms and conditions.”
Cargo growth
The airport’s ambitious expansion plans are in response to the growth in air cargo demand, which is forecasted to surge by 54% over the next two decades. With 85% of the UK population within a four-hour truck drive, the airport is already home to the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo operations, handling over 440,000 tonnes of goods each year. According to Steve Griffiths, Managing Director at East Midlands. “Analysis shows we have the potential for significant growth in the coming years and in order to meet this growth, we have identified development opportunities to enhance our cargo infrastructure.”
Griffiths also emphasised that the plans for growth will “bolster the airport’s pivotal roel in powering UK trade, with tens of thousands of jobs and billions in economic value set to be unlocked by enhancing EMA’s cargo operation.”
EMA’s plans for expansion include a 122,000m2 new warehouse and 1,000 new parking spaces and 51,000m2 of landside yard space.
