Western Isles airport operator Hial has moved to reassure passengers that its airports will open as normal despite the threat of a strike.
Airport security workers at Highland and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) will stage
a 48-
The action will affect services at airfields across the north of Scotland on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week.
This will be followed by a work to contract, including an overtime ban and a ban on rest day working.
Some 87% of Prospect union members who work for the airport operator’s AMSL security company voted in favour of a strike on a turnout of 85%.
The union maintains the bulk of security workers receive “inferior terms for work of equal value,” compared to other personnel.
Hail said its airports will open as normal despite the industrial action.
The airport firm said union demands for a near 30% pay rise was excessive and “unrealistic” and it had taken steps to “improve pay, terms and conditions for AMSL staff and we are prepared to discuss further improvements with Prospect.“
A spokesman said: “However, the union has refused HIAL requests to enter into negotiations or consider a more reasonable pay claim. increase in pay for AMSL staff.”
He stressed: “Even at this late stage, we hope that industrial action can be averted.
“However, passengers can be assured that we will work hard to keep any disruption to a minimum and ensure that a near normal service can be provided.”
Hial said the union is pushing for a series of measures amounting to an almost 30%
pay increase for some of its members -
The spokesman said the latter demand is “particularly unreasonable” given that wages at the Shetland airport are traditionally higher because of the higher cost of living, low unemployment rates and a buoyant oil based economy.
He added: “Even at this late stage, we hope that industrial action can be averted.
“However, passengers can be assured that we will work hard to keep any disruption to a minimum and ensure that a near normal service can be provided.”
Plane passengers face disruption during airport strike
29 March 2015