Scottish airport workers accept offer to settle dispute over unequal treatment

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Scottish airport workers accept offer to settle dispute over unequal treatment

Prospect members working in Scottish airport group HIAL’s security company AMSL have voted to accept a management offer to harmonise their terms and conditions over the next 20 months following a six year battle for equality.



With the ballot closing at midday, members voted 95% in favour of the offer on a turnout of 74%. Scottish government-owned HIAL tabled the offer after a period of work to rule following a 48-hour strike in the wake of the Easter weekend.

Alan Denney, Prospect national secretary, said: “I am delighted that this dispute has finally been settled and that our members will in future be on an equal footing with their colleagues in the wider HIAL group. It is right that the vital task of keeping the public safe when they fly is properly recognised.

“I would like to thank members for their patience over six long years as well as the wider public for their support and understanding during the recent industrial action.”

In the six years since HIAL brought security in house, management had failed to agree equal terms for basic pay, shift pay, sick pay, overtime, weekend premium payments, and holidays for AMSL’s airport security workers.

One of the starkest examples of inequality was sick pay, where AMSL members received just five half days per annum, in contrast to six months’ full pay – in simple terms – for the staff who manage them, and other colleagues in the wider group.

The union represents more than 120 of AMSL’s 160 workers covering eleven Scottish airports including Dundee, Inverness, Stornoway and Sumburgh.

For further information contact:

Alan Denney 0131 558 5283 (w) 07713 511702 (m) [email protected]

Andrew Child 020 7902 6681 (w) [email protected]