Staff reject pay offer at regional airports as unions meet with bosses

Unions PCS, Prospect and Unite have rejected the pay offer from bosses.

Staff reject pay offer at Highlands and Islands Airports as unions meet with bosses Spooh via iStock

Three trade unions representing workers at the state-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) have rejected a pay offer.

Airport bosses say they will now meet with union representatives after the offer was declared “insufficient” for staff amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

However, HIAL say they explored all options available when making the pay offer which was presented to unions PCS, Prospect and Unite.

Based in Inverness, HIAL operates 11 airports in the Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles and the Western Isles.

In response to the rejection of the offer, Jane Rose, Prospect union negotiator, said: “Prospect members at HIAL have voted to reject this year’s pay offer as insufficient to deal with the escalating cost of living.

“Prospect will consult with its members at HIAL to determine next steps and will seek immediate further engagement with the employer to try and find an acceptable way forward.”

Inglis Lyon, managing director at HIAL said: “The offer was the result of an extensive exercise on cost savings and the generation of additional income to allow an enhanced pay award that was affordable from within our existing finances.

“We will now meet with union colleagues to try and reach a solution following the disappointing result.”

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