Talks Plea As Airport Strike Ends
Airport security staff have ended a 48-hour strike but are working to rule as a dispute over pay and conditions continues.
The walkout by about 120 workers with AMSL, a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), caused flights between Dundee and Stansted to be suspended.
The Prospect union says management have failed to agree equal wages, holidays and sick pay for staff in the six years since HIAL brought security in-house.
As the strike came to an end, the airport operator said it would "look to deliver further improvements'' for staff but they must first spell out their claim in concrete terms.
HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: "The strike has been an unnecessary distraction from this process and it is in absolutely no-one's interests to allow the matter to continue unresolved. It is time to restart the talks.
"As we have said previously, the company has made great strides in improving pay and conditions for AMSL staff, including a 30% pay rise over the past five years.
"We have also made it clear that we will look to deliver further improvements, over time. However, the issues are complex and cannot be resolved in the heat of industrial action.
"Therefore, we are inviting the union to engage in detailed, meaningful discussions and set aside threats of further industrial action.
"We cannot make an offer to the union until they spell out their claim in concrete terms, something they have singularly failed to do.''
HIAL is owned by Scottish ministers and operates airports in Inverness, Dundee, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Wick.
The continued action by AMSL workers will see a ban on overtime and rest-day working as well as covering for senior staff.
Prospect national secretary Alan Denney said: "Today concludes the first phase of our action and we would like to thank members of the public in Scotland for the patience, support and understanding they have shown us over the last 48 hours.
"We have yet to receive notification of a formal offer from HIAL or an invitation to a meeting.
"However, we are more than willing to enter into dialogue with conciliation service Acas in order to settle this long-running dispute.''