Highland airport strikes suspended as HIAL puts forward new pay offer
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STRIKES planned at various Highland Airports next week have been suspended after airport bosses made an enhanced pay offer to trade unions.
Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) announced that trade unions, PCS, Prospect and Unite yesterday (Thursday 9 March) positively received the new offer which will now go to ballot with their members.
Workers have been offered a 7 per cent pay rise, an improvement from the previous offer of 5 per cent which had been rejected.
Prospect has confirmed that the current strike action by airport fire service and security members has been called off with effect from Monday 13 March.
The planned strikes were set to force Inverness Airport to shut on March 13 and 17, with airports in Stornoway, Benbecula, Islay and Dundee due to suffer disruption over the week.
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director said: “The new business case presented to Transport Scotland at the beginning of the week was approved and allowed us to make an improved pay offer.
“The trade unions welcomed this offer and have confirmed that they will now ballot their members on acceptance.
“We look forward to the outcome of the ballot and are hopeful for a positive result to resolve the current industrial dispute.
“We apologise for the disruption this industrial action has caused and would ask passengers to contact their airline if they have any questions on flights.”
Jane Rose, Prospect negotiator, said: “This is a welcome improvement to the offer from the employer which we will now be putting to members via ballot, although it is clear there are wider pay structure issues at HIAL which remain to be addressed.
“As a gesture of good faith in the negotiations, and recognising the positive change in the offer from HIAL we will be suspending all industrial action until the conclusion of consultation with members.”
