At least three airports serving isolated island communities in Scotland will have to be closed after Unite union calls strike action on 19 and 20 December, cruelly ending Christmas family reunions and celebrations.
Staff are walking out over a bitter pay dispute in which they've already turned down a 5% increase, will force the closure of the Outer Hebridean islands of Barra and Benbecula airports as well as Shetland's Sumburgh Airport. The action will also cause reduced hours at Stornoway Airport which will only be open for between 13.00 and 19.45 on both days. Kirkwall Airport will only be open for the morning on both days and only for inter-island flights.
The union says the striking firefighters will provide cover in case of medical emergencies and the airports operator Highlands and Islands Airports Limited says there is established local on-call medical emergency processes for any such eventualities.
Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s managing director said: “We deeply regret the disruption and inconvenience to our airline partners, passengers, and local communities that this action will cause.
Against the backdrop of unprecedented financial pressures, we presented an enhanced pay offer to colleagues that maximised the flexibility within the Scottish Government’s pay policy, which HIAL is bound by.
We recognise the challenges colleagues face due to inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis. However, the claim for a rise of at least RPI is unrealistic, and any further offer must be met from cost savings within existing budgets.
We will continue dialogue with the trade unions in an attempt to avoid further industrial action.”
One local resident said that her family Christmas plans were now in tatters as her children whom had been booked to arrive on 19th December, would not now be able to arrive in time. Their first festive get together since the onset of the covid pandemic have now had to be cancelled.