Flights may very well be affected over the festive season at Scotland’s busiest airport as a result of strike motion.
North Air gasoline tanker drivers primarily based at Edinburgh Airport are planning to stroll out for nearly three weeks in a dispute over pay.
The commercial motion led by Unite union will start at 5am on 18 December and finish at 4.59am on 6 January.
Edinburgh Airport – which served 14.4 million passengers final 12 months – is utilized by 35 airways flying to 152 locations.
As North Air is the one gasoline provide firm for airways flying out of Edinburgh Airport, Unite is warning quite a few key routes “will be directly impacted”.
North Air stated it was “disappointed” by the choice to strike however was “committed” to working with all events affected to minimise potential disruption over the 19 days of motion.
The pay dispute pertains to a rejected 4.5% pay supply by North Air after “years of below-inflation pay increases”, in line with Unite.
The union stated its members “overwhelmingly” backed strike motion in a bid to safe a greater supply.
Nevertheless, Unite is claiming North Air refused to re-enter pay negotiations.
Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, stated: “North Air has no concern for their workers or the travelling public.
“Unite has had no possibility however to verify imminent industrial motion. North Air now has very restricted time to resolve this dispute.
“The company’s belligerence is at serious risk of causing widespread travel disruption at Edinburgh Airport over the festive season.”
North Air stated it stays “open to discussion”.
A spokesperson for the agency stated: “We are disappointed at Unite’s decision to proceed with industrial action at Edinburgh Airport.
“We efficiently concluded negotiations with Unite at six different websites forward of the annual overview this summer season, which has seen colleagues throughout the enterprise obtain a 4.5% improve in pay – considerably above present ranges of inflation.
“We remain open to discussion and are committed to working with all parties to minimise the impact of any strike action over the festive period.”
Edinburgh Airport stated it was “disappointed” that the 2 events are but to succeed in an answer and urged them to “continue discussions”.
A spokesperson added: “We’re working with our airlines to understand their contingencies to minimise passenger disruption.”
