Airports boss issues apology and plea ahead of planned strikes over pay; walkouts set for Inverness, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Benbecula and Dundee
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THE north's airports boss has issued an apology ahead of three days of planned strikes over pay.
Air traffic controllers are set to walkout at six airports in the latest action in the dispute.
Inverness Airport will be affected on Sunday.
Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial) operates Inverness Airport as well as the other five where employees will go on strike.
Hial managing director Inglis Lyon has apologised for the disruption this further round of strike action will cause and urged the Prospect union to get back round the table and help deliver a solution.
Mr Lyon said Hial is fully prepared for three days of industrial action.
The strikes were called following the rejection of Hial’s latest offer on July 4. The offer rejected comprised a retention allowance that would have seen air traffic controllers benefit from an additional £10,000 over a five-year period.
Prospect presented a counter offer that was viewed as unacceptable.
Mr Lyon said: “We deeply regret the inconvenience and upset to hundreds of passengers affected by the strike action. We wish to find a resolution to this dispute as soon as possible and would urge Prospect to sit down with us once again to find some common ground on which we can arrive at a negotiated settlement.
“Our position has been consistent throughout. We can only deliver an affordable settlement within the terms of public sector pay policy. So far Prospect has continued to ask for a pay increase far in excess of what we are able to afford and that unfortunately remains the situation.
“We remain committed to resolving the dispute. Our latest offer of a retention allowance of £10,000 over a five-year period remains on the table and we will continue to explore potential solutions within our affordability.
“The continued industrial action is having a significant impact on our passengers, communities and the airlines operating from our airports. We would encourage Prospect to revisit the offer and bring this dispute to an end.”
The following airports will be closed to air traffic:
- Sunday: Inverness Airport
- Monday: Sumburgh Airport, Kirkwall Airport
- Tuesday: Stornoway Airport, Benbecula Airport, Dundee Airport
