Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie accuses Scottish Government ministers off being 'posted missing' in strike dispute between Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) and air traffic controllers within the Prospect union
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A HIGHLANDS MSP has called for urgent government action over the industrial action at Inverness Airport.
Highlands and Islands Green MSP John Finnie told the Strathy: “HIAL’s air traffic controllers provide an invaluable service to communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.
"The Scottish Government owns HIAL but ministers have been posted missing throughout this saga.
"It’s time for the Transport Secretary to intervene and bring about a positive resolution to this situation urgently.”
Air traffic controllers are awaiting the outcome of the latest ballot, with the result expected this weekend.
HIAL continue to engage with Prospect Union in a bid to resolve the air traffic control officers’ (ACTOs) pay dispute.
The action has come about after the Prospect Union balloted ATCOs to undertake industrial action to support their claim for a double-digit wage increase in 2018/19 or a long-term commitment to above inflation pay awards.
Prospect believe ATCOs in the Highlands and Islands and Dundee should have parity with ATCOs at Glasgow, Edinburgh and London airports.
HIAL and Prospect jointly undertook analysis of air traffic controller pay at non-HIAL airports.
The evidence "did not support" a double-digit wage award.
Several airports as well as Inverness are involved in the industrial action: Benbecula, Dundee, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Wick John O’Groats.
As a government sponsored agency, HIAL must follow the Scottish Government pay policy. Under this policy, Scottish ministers set a remit on pay for most public sector staff in Scotland. The remit sets the parameters for pay increases for public sector staff.
Last year HIAL awarded up to three per cent, which was awarded to all HIAL staff. The pay award received by staff was the maximum allowed within the 18/19 pay remit. HIAL cannot implement pay awards more than that directed by government policy, although flexibility was granted by the Scottish Government to examine a retention allowance for ATCOs.
Prospect received a formal proposal from HIAL on June 3, and following further discussion the offer, based on a retention allowance, was enhanced and Prospect agreed to ballot their members. Following the outcome of the ballot, HIAL’s latest offer was rejected by the ATCOs.
