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Unite ballots members working at HIAL airports for strike action as Christmas looms

Aircraft turning by control tower
Could Christmas air travel be disrupted by Unite airport strike? Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.

Labour body Unite is to ballot its members working at Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) on strike action as it rejected a 5% pay offer from management as “insulting.”

HIAL insists the 5% offer was to address current pressures around the cost of living, but will be eyeing the Unite ballot nervously in the run up to Christmas as the union wields major influence at all 11 HIAL airports across the north and on the islands.

Unite represents a significant number of fire crews essential to the operation of all flights.

Two fire engines.
Airports cannot operate without adequate fire crews. Image: HIAL.

As well as Unite, the Prospect and Public and Commercial Services Union also previously turned down the 5% basic award, which HIAL insists is “an improved pay offer”.

Unite notes its members serve some of the most remote communities in the north and islands and maintains the pay deal is “well below” what it believes they are worth.

Food, petrol and housing costs are higher in rural communities says Unite, while colder weather means higher energy prices impact those who live in rural areas more harshly, with the winter months particularly difficult.

HIAL bosses must make a realistic pay offer to avoid escalating this”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These workers provide a lifeline, connecting the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The work they do is vital in maintaining these communities.

“They should therefore expect and deserve a pay increase that reflects that.

“The cost of working in communities like this is higher than in many of our urban centres and the cost of living crisis is making this unaffordable. HIAL bosses must make a realistic pay offer to avoid escalating this into a full industrial dispute.”

HIAL insists its “enhanced offer” was affordable through its existing finances and “maximised the parameters of the Scottish Government pay policy,” a position it says was acknowledged by the unions.

Hial managing director Inglis Lyon.
Hial managing director Inglis Lyon. Image: DC Thomson.

HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: “Meetings were held on October 28 with the trade unions to explore further measures the company may be able to implement to enhance the offer, but these fell short of union expectations.

“However, we will remain in dialogue with union colleagues to try to reach a solution.”

HIAL’s pay offer comprised:
•          A 5% basic pay award to all staff earning less than £80k
•          A 4% basic pay award to all staff earning more than £80k
•          A 5% increase to fixed allowances, not automatically updated by the 5% increase in basic pay.

Unite remains ‘open to dialogue’

Unite regional officer Shauna Wright added: “Our members provide a crucial role for the airport from firefighting and security to customer service, this pay award affects all our members across all grades and does nothing for the retention and the recruitment of staff on islands.

“Unite remain open to dialogue to seek a solution however, all members deserve more and they deserve a pay that’s in line with the cost of living.

Rejection by unions of the pay deal follows news from HIAL in September it would not proceed with parts of an air traffic modernisation plan following a cut in its budget from Transport Scotland.

Aircraft landing on the beach at Barra Airport.
HIAL operates some of the most remote airports in the Highlands and Islands. Image: HIAL.

The move came after a broader spending review by the Scottish Government in May and will see HIAL “scale back” its project.

HIAL operates 11 airports, including Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick John O’Groats.

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