Airport Security Staff Vote to Strike
Security staff at several Scottish airports have voted in favour of a 48-hour walkout over working conditions.
Employees at Highland and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) will strike from noon on Tuesday April 7.
The Prospect union said members working in the group's security company AMSL opted not to strike until after the Easter weekend in order to minimise holiday travel disruption.
HIAL is owned by Scottish ministers and operates 11 airports including Dundee, Inverness, Stornoway and Sumburgh.
Prospect national secretary Alan Denney said 87% of members voted in favour of a strike, on a turnout of 85%.
He said: "The ballot result shows a clear determination to secure fairness for AMSL workers.
"Our dispute is with HIAL and Scottish ministers, not passengers, so our representatives decided to avoid travel disruption over the Easter weekend.
"Therefore, the strike will start after the Easter rush has passed. This will be followed by a work to contract, including an overtime ban and a ban on rest-day working.''
The union said HIAL has failed to agree equal pay, holidays and sick pay for AMSL workers since bringing security provision in-house several years ago.
It said members stand ready to meet HIAL representatives to negotiate a settlement.
The airport operator moved to reassure passengers that its hubs will open as normal despite the planned industrial action.
HIAL said AMSL staff have enjoyed a 30% increase in basic pay over five years and a "generous'' pension scheme has been introduced.
A spokesman said: "Prospect is pushing for a series of measures amounting to an almost 30% pay increase for some of its members: this comprises a basic pay rise, equalisation with HIAL's terms and conditions, and parity with Sumburgh employees.
"The latter demand is particularly unreasonable given that wages at Sumburgh are traditionally higher than on the mainland because of the higher cost of living, low unemployment rates and a buoyant, oil-based economy which has traditionally attracted higher wages.
"We have taken steps to improve pay, terms and conditions for AMSL staff, and we are prepared to discuss further improvements with Prospect.
"However, the union has refused HIAL requests to enter into negotiations or consider a more reasonable pay claim.
"HIAL is governed by the Scottish Government pay policy and cannot accede to Prospect's unrealistic demands.
"However, we remain open to further dialogue with Prospect and to continuing our constructive approach. Even at this late stage, we hope that industrial action can be averted.''