Airport strikes set to cripple Xmas travel for Highlands and Islands

THouSAnDS of Scots’ festive travel plans could be plunged into turmoil after staff at 11 airports voted in favour of strikes.

Families face an anxious wait to find out if they can fly to see loved ones over Christmas as union bosses plot crippling industrial action over a pay dispute with the Scottish Government.

The unite trade union announced yesterday almost three-quarters (73.5 per cent) of voting members across the Scottish Government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) backed strikes.

Strike dates will be announced next week if no pay deal is reached, with walkouts likely to cause hundreds of flight cancellations.

Airport bosses have reportedly claimed they are bound by funding obligations set by the Scottish Government and cannot improve on a 5 per cent pay offer.

SnP ministers are being urged to intervene to avert the strikes as they are warned that flight cancellations will have a ‘devastating impact’ on families’ festive plans.

Ferry services already face increased cancellations because of bad weather in the winter months and an ageing fleet.

The prospect of axing flights will cause ‘huge disruption’ according to unite, with many travellers fearing being stranded over the Christmas period.

The 11 airports facing staff walkouts are Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.

unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘Airport workers across Highland and Island communities simply can’t afford to live on their current wages. To then present them with what amounts to a significant pay cut at a time of rocketing living costs leaves them with no other course of action but to take a stand. The Scottish Government and HIAL have to act to deliver on pay or face a rural workforce crisis.’

Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands spokesman

Jamie Halcro Johnston said: ‘This strike action will have a devastating impact on many families’ plans for the festive period and for the wider economy across the Highlands and Islands.

‘once again the SnP Government has been found wanting when it comes to the looming threats of strikes and has been asleep at the wheel.

‘If this action goes ahead, our rural and island communities will suffer major disruption. The onus is on ministers to get back round the table with unions and pull out all the stops to avoid this action going ahead.’

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, who

represents orkney, said: ‘These strikes will be a bitter blow for those travelling home or away for Christmas. With no clarity about the dates for action, making alternative plans is almost impossible. Reaching a deal has certainly not been made any easier, however, by HIAL wasting millions on ill-advised centralisation plans, which have now been abandoned.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We absolutely respect the democratic right of union members to take industrial action. It is disappointing that passengers face the prospect of disruption ahead of the festive period. We encourage HIAL and unite to continue to engage in positive dialogue.’

‘A devastating impact on families’