LONDON – Continuing strike action has again closed Dundee Airport to flight operations this Monday 20 February. The Scottish airport was closed on Friday last week due to the industrial action.
The strike action which has been coordinated by the union Unite has seen approximately 120 workers embroiled in a dispute over pay with Highlands and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL).
Personnel involved range from security staff, ground crew and baggage handlers. The dispute is expected to spill over to other HIAL operated airports later this month.
Affected airports
Unite called upon their members to take strike action at Dundee Airport on Friday 17 February and Monday 20 February commencing at 00:01 and finishing at 23.59 on both days.
It is likely that further HIAL airports will see strike action in the coming days. Unite has also called on their members at the following airports to take strike action from 00.01 on 21 February 2023 and continuing up to 23.59 on 23 February 2023:
- Barra
- Benbecula
- Campbeltown
- Inverness
- Islay
- Kirkwall
- Stornoway
- Sumburgh
- Tiree
- Wick John O’Groats
The union has also called on their members to take part in a ban on overtime commencing at 00:01 on 24 February 2023 and continuing each day up to 23.59 on 2 March 2023.
The following airports will be CLOSED for flights on Tuesday 21 February, Wednesday 22 February and Thursday 23 February 2023 from 00.01 to 23.59 hours on each day
- Barra
- Benbecula
- Stornoway
- Sumburgh
- Tiree
Kirkwall Airport will operate on a limited basis, opening between 07.15 and 13.00 on Tuesday 21 February, Wednesday 22 February and Thursday 23 February for inter-island flights only.
The present airport strike action comes after Unite members rejected a 5% pay offer by HIAL late last year.
According to the BBC news source, HIAL members of a second union have also been involved in a pay dispute, and have this week voted in favour of strike action.
Prospect has said that its ballot involves firefighting and security staff who are engaged at all of the 11 airports which operate under the HIAL umbrella.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
