Strike threat as air traffic controller talks break down
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TALKS have broken down in the pay dispute involving air traffic controllers at Wick and six other airports in the Highlands and Islands.
A further meeting took place on Friday between representatives of the Prospect union, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial), with no resolution.
Prospect now says it will be meeting with its air traffic controller representatives this week to agree further industrial action.
Air traffic controllers at Wick John O’Groats, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Stornoway, Inverness, Benbecula and Dundee are pressing for a double-digit rise in their wages or a long-term commitment to above-inflation pay awards.
Hial management says the pay dispute arose despite increases of between two and three per cent awarded to staff as part of the 2018/19 pay settlement.
Prospect members have been extremely patient with Hial. That patience is now exhausted.
David Avery, Prospect negotiations officer, said: “Our members agreed to cancel strike action earlier in the year to allow the company to develop new proposals. It is disappointing that after three meetings no new proposals have been tabled and no new money has been made available.
“Prospect members have been extremely patient with Hial. That patience is now exhausted. We will now move to further industrial action, including strike. We urge Scottish ministers to intervene and come forward with additional funding to resolve this dispute.”
Hial managing director Inglis Lyon said: “We met with Prospect and ACAS on May 3 for the third time in an effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the pay dispute with air traffic controllers. Hial is bound by the existing Government pay policy and simply cannot implement a pay award that greatly exceeds it.
“We are disappointed that proposals put forward by Hial were not accepted by Prospect, and that talks on Friday failed to deliver a resolution.
“Hial is committed to resolving this dispute and we would urge the union to work with us to deliver a reasonable and appropriate remuneration package.”
Average salaries for air traffic control officers at Inverness are £73,000. At other Hial airports they are £58,000. Inverness controllers require additional ratings on their licence (Radar) that attract a higher salary.
