Firefighters and security staff at airports in Highlands and Islands set for strike action over pay

FIREFIGHTERS and security staff at airports across the Highlands and Islands are set to take strike action after rejecting a pay offer.

Members of the Prospect union, which represents employees at all 11 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) including Wick John O' Groats, backed action in a ballot which closed on Tuesday. It resulted in a 71 per cent vote for a strike with 84 per cent voting for action short of a strike on a turnout of over 80 per cent. The regulatory threshold is 50 per cent.

In October, 2022 firefighters and security staff working for HIAL overwhelmingly rejected a five per cent pay offer. Since then, the union says it has sought talks to resolve the dispute but there has been "no substantive change of position from either the employer or the Scottish Government."

Following the result of the ballot, Prospect is now consulting with members on the form and dates for industrial action. The union warns that strike action and action short of a strike "is likely to cause significant disruption across the remote and rural communities served by the airports."

Firefighters and security members enable the safe operation of HIAL airports, supporting vital travel links between some of the most remote communities in Scotland.

Unite the union has already announced a series of strike dates in February across the Highland and Islands airports and Prospect fully supports Unite members in their campaign.

Jane Rose, Prospect negotiations officer, said: "Our members in fire and security are increasingly frustrated at the lack of meaningful progress to resolve this dispute. They overwhelmingly rejected an unacceptable five per cent offer in October but since then neither HIAL nor Scottish Government have come back to the table with any serious effort to deliver a pay increase that properly addresses the worst cost-of-living crisis in 40 years."

She added: "Our members don’t want to go on strike. They live in these communities, and they understand the impact action will have on families, friends, local business, and tourism but after months of delay with no progress, they have been left with no option but to take a stand.

"Prospect will be meeting again with HIAL in the coming days but unless they move quickly to deliver a meaningful and fair offer on pay and terms and conditions they will create a spring of continual disruption for customers and visitors."

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