Industrial action by air traffic controllers to affect airport at Wick

WICK is one of the airports in the Highlands and Islands which will be affected by industrial action by air traffic controllers. That was confirmed by the Prospect union after its members voted overwhelmingly to renew their mandate for industrial action in opposition to controversial plans to centralise air traffic control services to Inverness.

However, Inglis Lyon, the managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) which runs 11 airports, including Wick John O' Groats on behalf of the Scottish Government, has hit out at the decision and said it will impact on passengers and the communities served by the company.

Since January, the air traffic controllers have been engaged in limited industrial action including an overtime ban, refusal to cooperate with the remote towers project, and a refusal to assist in the training for new recruits.

The union said the vote will renew the action and the possibility of future strike action in protest at the Air Traffic Management Strategy (ATMS).

Prospect says the decision to continue with the centralisation plan has come "under fire from all sides" after a damning Islands Impact Assessment showing "the substantial negatives of the project for islands economies and an equally critical report into Hial’s project management."

Accordidng to the union, a parliamentary question from MSP Beatrice Wishart this week revealed that Scottish Government ministers have not discussed the report, despite it being received by Hial in November and published in March.

Prospect negotiator, David Avery, said: "Prospect members have signalled with this vote that they are determined to stand firm against this disastrous project.

"We support modernisation of air traffic control, but the case for remote towers has been comprehensively demolished from every angle and yet Hial and Scottish Government ministers simply refuse to consider the alternative options. The project is opposed by staff, local communities, local politicians and independent experts. It is time for Hial to seriously engage with alternative proposals."

Mr Inglis said: "The continuation of industrial action will impact our passengers, the communities we serve, and our airlines at a time when we are beginning to see confidence in air travel return and passenger numbers increasing across all of our airports.

"We absolutely recognise the personal impact on those affected and will continue dialogue with Prospect to agree and finalise various policies to support our air traffic colleagues through the ATMS transition."

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