Highland and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) responds to move by Unite union to ballot members over strike action
Highland and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) has responded to the announcement that the Unite union is to ballot members over strike action following the rejection of a five percent pay offer.
This afternoon HIAL issued a statement and managing director Inglis Lyon said: “Following an extensive exercise on operational efficiencies and the generation of additional income through various measures, we presented an enhanced offer to the trade unions.
"The offer was affordable from within our existing finances and maximised the parameters of the Scottish Government pay policy, and this was acknowledged by the trade unions.
“Meetings were held on Friday, October 28, with the trade unions to explore further measures that the company may be able to implement to enhance the offer, but these fell short of union expectations. However, we will remain in dialogue with union colleagues to try to reach a solution.”
The enhanced pay offer comprised:
• A five per cent basic pay award to all staff earning less that £80,000;
• A four per cent basic pay award to all staff earning more that £80,000;
• A five per cent increase to fixed allowances, not automatically updated by the five per cent increase in basic pay.
