Isles of Scilly Skybus take further strike action over bank holiday weekend
Members of the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) will take part in a 48-hour walkout
Last updated 25th Aug 2023
Skybus workers will be taking further strike action this bank holiday weekend.
Pilot members of the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) will take part in a 48-hour walkout from 00:00 25 August 2023 to 24:00 26 August 2023.
The strike is planned for the August bank holiday weekend, which is set to be a busy time for air travel to the Isles of Scilly.
According to strikers at the Isles of Scilly Skybus Limited, the IPA has been in a lengthy dispute with the company over two matters:
- The company’s disregard for the recognition agreement between the two organisations, which states that the company must negotiate with the IPA on all aspects of the pilots’ remuneration
- An imposed pay award that falls significantly below inflation
Joel Stansfield, general secretary at Independent Pilots Association, said: "We believe that a pay award of 12.5% is required, both to address historic pay awards that have collectively fallen short of inflation by 12.2% and to accommodate 2023 rates of inflation.
"Our pilots simply cannot bear the burden of taking real-terms pay reductions to keep the company posting healthy profits. This is particularly galling given that the company’s recent accounts inform us that some members of the executive team are enjoying remuneration increases of approximately 50%.
"It is also true that in recent years pilot recruitment has not equalled attrition, meaning that current pilots have the workload of once greater numbers. We know the company has the means to meet our pilots’ needs and we stand by our claim as being fair and justified.
"We are affording, both to customers and the company, a period of three weeks where strikes have not been planned. But given that the company continues to refuse our offers to talk, these strike days are inevitable."
A spokesperson for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company said:
"We are deeply disappointed by the IPA's planned 48-hour strike on August 25 and 26 and are sorry for any inconvenience this causes the local community and our passengers. All non-day trip passengers booked to fly on these days have been automatically transferred to Scillonian III sailings on the same dates but may choose to cancel and receive a full refund. Day-trip passengers have been offered an alternative date or full refund.
"Our 5% pay increase offer remains on the table. This is in addition to 5% awarded last year. However, the IPA continues to insist on a 12.5% pay award for its members. Our duty remains to all Skybus employees and the 70,000 visitors who fly with us each year."