Warning of 'significant' disruption after Highland air traffic controllers vote to strike
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AIR passengers in the Highlands and Islands face “significant” disruption after air traffic controllers voted overwhelmingly to strike.
Prospect Air Traffic controllers working for Highlands and Island Airport Limited (HIAL) have to take industrial action following the rejection by Scottish Ministers of a business case to resolve the dispute.
Some 88% of controllers voted for strike action with 90% backing action short of a strike. Turnout was 86%.
Prospect will consult representatives next week before confirming industrial action plans. The action is likely to start in April and continue through the summer.
Prospect negotiations officer David Avery said: “Prospect members have overwhelmingly backed the union’s position and sent a clear message to the Scottish Government that enough is enough.
“Our members at HIAL undertake highly skilled roles, much in demand across the UK and Europe, but due to public sector pay restraint their pay has fallen significantly behind the rest of the industry.
“Air Traffic Controllers do not want to have to take this action but Ministers’ refusal to engage with the issue of pay has left them with no choice. Prospect remains ready to negotiate at any point to avoid this action but ministers must come back to the table with a new meaningful offer.”
HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon, said he was “disappointed” by the outcome of the vote and warned any action would have “a significant impact on passengers and the communities we serve in the Highlands and Islands”.
He continued: The Prospect union has sought a double-digit pay award. As a government sponsored agency, HIAL must follow the Scottish Government pay policy. We cannot implement pay awards more than that directed by government.
“HIAL made a pay award offer to all staff which was accepted following an overall ballot of trade union members and paid to all staff at the end of September 2018. This was backdated to April 1, 2018, and saw colleagues receive increases of up to three per cent in line with Scottish Government Pay Remit Guidelines.
“Prospect ATC members rejected the pay settlement, but nonetheless received the increase.
“We are open to holding further talks with Prospect on a recruitment and retention allowance for Air Traffic Control staff that would further bolster an attractive remuneration package that already includes excellent pension benefits and holiday entitlements.”
