Highland air traffic controllers to be balloted over strike action
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The Prospect Union has already notified Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) that it will be asking air traffic controllers to cast a vote regarding a strike. An indicative ballot in October gained overwhelming support.
The dispute centres on the controllers at Inverness and elsewhere being paid much less than their counterparts further south, which the union maintains is unfair.
An innovative centralised air traffic control system that many fear could lead to job losses in years to come has also added to the bitterness in the dispute, though it is not part of the current move.
Before Christmas both Prospect and HIAL agreed to an evidence-based business case that set out the pay gap between HIAL and the rest of the industry in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Prospect believes if HIAL cannot attract and retain controllers through pay issues, this has and will continue to cause staff shortages and pose a risk to maintaining service provision.
According to the union it has no choice but to move towards industrial action after Scottish Ministers rejected the business case earlier this week without explanation and with no additional funding offered.
Prospect negotiation officer David Avery said: “Scottish Ministers have been promising pay restoration for public sector workers but their policy fails to deliver.
“There is a global shortage of air traffic controllers which is driving wages up across the industry - at the same time HIAL staff have received below inflation pay awards.
“It is unfair that a HIAL air traffic controller, providing an essential service for the Highlands and Islands, is being paid half as much their counterpart in London – enough is enough.
“Our members have tried every other means to resolve this dispute but by rejecting a fair and reasonable proposal to resolve the dispute ministers have left them with no option but to pursue strike action.”
HIAL HR director Andrea Sillars, said: “HIAL note the position taken by the Ministers. We are disappointed that Prospect have decided to ballot their members on strike action. We remain committed to continuing constructive discussions to help resolve the dispute and are open to holding further talks with Prospect on a recruitment and retention allowance for Air Traffic Control staff. We await the outcome of the ballot.”
