Unite confirms wage uplift of up to 7 percent across 11 airports

Unite the union can confirm today (21 March) that the long-running pay dispute involving 120 Unite members across the Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) Group is over after a revised pay offer was accepted.

The pay dispute involving Unite, which lead to industrial action across all eleven airports that are part of the HIAL Group, is over following the membership accepting a revised pay offer by 93 per cent.

The deal reached ensures a basic salary uplift of 7 per cent for those earning up to £44,000, and a 5 per cent increase to shift allowances.

Unite represents security staff, baggage handlers, ground crew along with those working in fire and rescue, security and administration.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s members across the Highlands and Islands airports stood firm and fought to achieve a positive result. Unite’s members are to be congratulated for leading the fight to secure better jobs, pay and conditions across the Highlands and Islands.”

HIAL is a private limited company wholly-owned by the Scottish Government. The eleven airports across the HIAL Group are Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.

Shauna Wright, Unite industrial officer said: “The deal secured at the HIAL Group represents a significant shift in position from when the industrial action by Unite members started in December. There has been movement by the company, and ultimately the Scottish Government, which has brought the dispute to an end for Unite. We are pleased our members will receive a significant boost to their pay and conditions. We are also urging the Scottish Government to grant HIAL the flexibility to negotiate with trade unions going forward and this must entail a review of how the public pay policy actually works in practice.”

Members of Unite voted in December 2022 by 73.5 per cent in favour of taking strike action and by 92.8 per cent in favour of taking action short of strike in a bid to improve pay for rural communities amid the cost of living crisis.

 

ENDS