News / Air traffic controllers vote for action over pay
URGENT talks are due to be held this week after air traffic controllers working for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) voted in favour of industrial action over pay.
Members of the Prospect union voted “near unanimously” for action after previously rejecting a two per cent offer earlier this year.
HIAL is due to meet with the union on Thursday in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Prospect negotiations officer David Avery said: “There is an international shortage of air traffic controllers.
“HIAL rates of pay have fallen significantly behind the other air traffic providers in the UK and this is now having an impact on operations. Members want HIAL to address this issue now before they fall even further behind.”
A spokesman for government-owned HIAL, which has a portfolio of 11 airports including Sumburgh, explained that Prospect air traffic control members were balloted separately to other staff.
“HIAL made a pay award offer to all staff which was accepted following an overall ballot of trade union members and paid to everyone at the end of September, backdated to 1 April 2018 and saw colleagues (including ATC staff) receive increases of up to three per cent in line with Scottish Government pay remit guidelines,” a HIAL spokesman said.
“Prospect ATC members were balloted separately and rejected the pay settlement. Prospect have indicated that they seek a double-digit increase or a commitment from the company to raise wages above inflation to catch up with the market.”
Prospect added that the dispute is not related to HIAL’s plans to centralise air traffic services in Inverness.
“While members are opposed to these proposals we are still engaging with the company and politicians to reverse the in-principle decision to proceed,” it added.
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