Open golf safe from airport action

THE operators of Inverness Airport say any industrial action by security staff over a pay dispute will not impact on the Scottish Open golf championship.

The 160 workers at 11 airports run by state-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) will be balloted later this month.

Action would start in the week beginning 4 July, with the Barclays Scottish Open, at Castle Stuart, close to Inverness Airport, being held from 7-10 July.

The Prospect union say the staff have been offered a "miserly" 1 per cent increase to their current rates which are as little as 6.85 an hour. Alan Denney, Prospect national officer, has called on First Minister Alex Salmond to step in to resolve the dispute.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL managing director, said: "There will be no impact on the Scottish Open given that the majority of attendees travel from approximately two hours of the event by car. Contingency plans are in place."