Highlands and Islands Airports Limited

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited today confirmed that Inverness Airport will not be affected by strike action called by trades union Unite for 23 June and 4 July.

The news came following local discussions between airport management and members of the Airport Fire Service.

This means that the majority of the airport’s traffic can operate as normal on the days of industrial action. However, flights between Inverness and Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh airports may be disrupted due to strike action at the island airports.

HIAL also said that it would prefer all fire fighters, leading fire fighters and engineers at its other nine airports to work as normal and to take a collaborative approach to future pay settlements.

The spokesman said: “The 2% settlement was the maximum offer we could make for 2007/08 within the public sector pay remit. However, we had approval from our shareholder to look at internal efficiency savings and use these to potentially increase the award.

“This was a real opportunity to be able to gain greater flexibility in future awards and recognise the work of employees across the company. The offer to conclude this work was turned down by the union.

 “It is the personal decision of individual members of staff represented by Unite whether or not they take the action. Some have already decided not to. The ballot for action was by no means unanimous and we would urge them to think hard about what a strike will achieve and what could be achieved by working together on the issue of pay.

“A strike will not increase the 2% award but working together on efficiencies and smarter working practices may do in the future,” he said.

HIAL has advised airlines and flight operators of the potential disruption at its other nine airports on 23 June and 4 July. The company will not be deploying Airport Fire Service personnel not represented by Unite in a bid to break the strike.

The spokesman added: “It would not be practical to seek to open some airports by deploying officers. Nor would it be desirable in terms of future working relationships within the Airport Fire Service. The ability of our airports to operate on the strike days will be down to the decisions of the staff represented by Unite.”