Airports security staff to strike

Isle of Tiree airport. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Around 120 staff in the Prospect union at security company AMSL, which services Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), are to hold the industrial action from midday on Tuesday April 7.

HIAL is owned by Scottish ministers and operates 11 airports including Dundee, Inverness and Stornoway.

It said the action means Dundee airport will be closed during the strike and HIAL asked passengers planning to travel at its other airports to “limit the amount of hand or check in luggage they take”.

The dispute is over pay, holidays and sick pay for security workers, Prospect said, with 87% of members voting for strike action in a ballot on a turnout of 85%.

Talks were held earlier today in an attempt to avoid industrial action.

Prospect negotiator Alan Denney said: “Despite attempts to find a settlement to the dispute in AMSL, the inability of the company or the Scottish Government to find a way to settle this matter means that industrial action is inevitable.

“The timing is intended to minimise disruption for holiday travel.

“Once this first 48 hours of strike action has concluded members will begin a work to contract, including an overtime ban and a ban on rest day working.”

HIAL previously said AMSL staff have enjoyed a 30% increase in basic pay over five years and a ‘’generous’’ pension scheme has been introduced.

A statement from HIAL said: “Following detailed discussions with Prospect, we believe we have made some progress with the union, with both sides showing willingness to compromise. We now require some time, with our Transport Scotland colleagues, to consider the issues we have discussed with Prospect.

“In the meantime, as a sign of goodwill, we have requested that the union postpone industrial action until we are in a position to reply to them in detail, which is entirely within their gift.

“Unfortunately, the union has insisted on an immediate response to their requests and we are simply not able to provide this.

“As a result, the union has confirmed that it will proceed as planned with its strike threat. We regret that, having come this far and made reasonable progress in our discussions, the union has presented an entirely arbitrary and unreasonable deadline, to which we simply cannot accede.

“We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience caused during the industrial action. We have been entirely reasonable throughout this process.”

HIAL operates airports in Inverness, Dundee, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Wick.