THREE of Scotland’s airports are closed on Monday due to strikes.
The facilities on the Outer Hebridean islands of Barra and Benbecula, as well as Sumburgh Airport on Shetland, will also be shuttered on Thursday as a result of the action from Unite union members.
Bosses at Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) also confirmed earlier this month that Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis will be open from 1pm to 7.45pm during the strikes and Kirkwall Airport in Orkney will open from 7.15am to 1pm, and only for inter-island flights.
The remaining Hial airports, in Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Tiree, and Wick John O’Groats, will operate as usual.
The strike action comes after the union members rejected the 5% pay rise they have been offered, with almost three quarters (73.5%) backing industrial action in a ballot.
After the vote, Hial managing director Inglis Lyon (above) said the demands from the union were “unrealistic”.
“We deeply regret the disruption and inconvenience to our airline partners, passengers, and local communities that this action will cause," he said.
“Against the backdrop of unprecedented financial pressures, we presented an enhanced pay offer to colleagues that maximised the flexibility within the Scottish Government’s pay policy, which Hial is bound by.
“We recognise the challenges colleagues face due to inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis.
“However, the claim for a rise of at least RPI is unrealistic, and any further offer must be met from cost savings within existing budgets.
“We will continue dialogue with the trade unions in an attempt to avoid further industrial action.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel