Efforts to end the current pay dispute between air traffic controllers and Hial have progressed after the Prospect Union confirmed no further strike action will take place while it consults its members on a revised pay offer.
Following talks earlier this week, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) put forward a further offer that augmented their previous pay proposal.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of Hial, said: “We submitted a revised offer in a bid to resolve the current industrial dispute. Prospect has advised they will ballot air traffic control officers on that offer.
“Whilst we are pleased that there will be no further strike action during the consultation period, it is extremely disappointing that the current work to rule remains in place.
“I once again apologise to our passengers, customers and people within our communities for any disruption caused during the ongoing industrial action.”
The dispute has been rumbling on for nearly 10 months now, with industrial action – including strikes – being implemented at airports across the Hial network.
The intention to implement industrial action was signalled by Prospect in March after 88% of its members opted to vote in favour of vacating traffic control towers to seek their desired pay increase.
David Avery, Prospect negotiations officer, added: “Prospect has received a pay offer for all HIAL staff, including air traffic controllers who are currently in dispute.
“We are consulting our members on the offer.
“While we do so no further strike days are planned but the work to rule remains in place. Prospect will not be commenting on the detail of the offer.”
Last year, controllers rejected a 2% pay rise offered to breach the gap in pay HIAL air traffic controllers face when compared to other airport operators across the UK, instead seeking a 10% rise.
