Industrial action due to affect airports across the Highlands next week, warns union
STRIKES are due to affect airports across the Highlands and Islands, including Wick, next week, according to Unite the union.
It said the 24-hour action – called over a pay dispute involving over 120 members – will start at Dundee on Friday (February 17) and continue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Feb. 21, 22 and 23) at Wick John O' Groats airport as well as at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree.
Several airports, operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are expected to be fully closed during the strikes although Wick and Inverness are not included on the list.
Unite has also confirmed its members will take part in an overtime ban across all 11 airports starting on 24 February and continuing each day up to and including March 2.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "The industrial action is set to fully close a number of airports starting with Dundee. Other airports will either operate on a limited basis or be significantly disrupted.
"Let’s be clear that the source of this dispute is due to the inflexibility shown by airport management and the Scottish Government to pay these workers what they deserve. Unite will fully support our members in the fight for better jobs, pay and conditions across the Highlands and Islands."
The workforce has previously rejected a five per cent offer which they described as unacceptable. Unite represents security staff, baggage handlers, ground crew along with those working in fire and rescue, security and administration.
HIAL, a private limited company wholly-owned by the Scottish Government, says it is bound by funding obligations set by the Scottish Government. Unite has previously called on the Scottish Government to meet with the trade union, the workers and HIAL to improve pay, terms and conditions in the Highlands and Islands.
So far, the Scottish Government has not directly met with Unite to discuss pay, recruitment and retention of workers across the HIAL group.
Shauna Wright, Unite industrial officer said: "Unite has no choice but to escalate our industrial action across the HIAL Group. Our members keep the airports operating in isolated and rural communities. They help to ensure that businesses can trade, workers can travel and visitors can come to the islands. The way they have been treated by the Scottish Government and HIAL management is deeply disappointing.
"The industrial action will now cause widespread disruption. Local communities, workers and businesses should turn their fire on the Scottish Government for ignoring these vital workers and allowing this dispute to escalate to a point where airports will now be fully closed."
Members of Unite voted in December 2022 by 73.5 per cent in favour of taking strike action and by 92.8 per cent in favour of taking action short of strike in a bid to improve pay for rural communities amid a cost of living crisis.
HIAL was contacted for a comment.
Meanwhile, firefighters and security staff, who are members of the Prospect union, are set to strike at airports across the Highlands and Islands after rejecting a pay offer. They backed action in a ballot.
The union is consulting with members on the form and dates for industrial action but has warned the action is likely to "cause significant disruption across the remote and rural communities served by the airports."