Strikes to close seven Scottish airports
Seven Scottish airports will be forced to temporarily close later this month due to strikes by air traffic controllers.
The Prospect union said its members had rejected a pay offer by the owner of the Highlands and Islands airports, HIAL.
It put forward a counter proposal to HIAL to resolve the dispute, but this has been rejected, prompting the union to organise three days of strikes.
These will be:
* Inverness (pictured) – 21 July.
* Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Wick 22 July
* Dundee, Stornoway and Benbecula 23 July
HIAL has confirmed the airports will each close for 24 hours during the strikes, which will take place during the middle of the Scottish school summer break.
Prospect negotiations officer David Avery said: "While we will seek to avoid disrupting major events as much possible, any strike action is disruptive by its nature, particularly during the school holidays.
"We would like to reiterate that we have been seeking to resolve this dispute for more than a year and this action is only being taken as a last resort."
State-owned HIAL’s managing director Inglis Lyon apologised to customers and local communities for the disruption this will cause.
"It is disheartening to have received a counter offer from Prospect that is beyond our affordability," he said. "Over the past eight months we have discussed various options with the union and have been clear throughout that any proposal must be affordable.
"Prospect are aware of Hial’s budgetary restrictions and our latest offer constituted compromise to accommodate trade union demands within the bounds of the pay policy.
"We remain committed to resolving the dispute and our latest offer of a retention allowance of £10,000 over a five year period remains on the table.
"The continued industrial action is having a significant impact on our communities and the airlines operating from our airports. We would encourage Prospect to revisit the offer and bring this dispute to an end."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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