SCHEDULED flights at nine airports across the Highlands and Islands are suspended today because of strike action over a pay dispute.
The industrial action called by the union Unite is expected to affect about 2,000 passengers using airports run by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), which is owned by the Scottish Government.
The action will close the airports at Barr
a, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.
A second 24-hour walk out is due to be called on 4 July by the union.
HIAL said the trade union could not agree to work with it on efforts to enhance pay settlements.
Fire service staff at Inverness are not taking part in the action and the airport is operating as normal, although flights to Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles from Inverness will be affected. Dundee Airport, also operated by HIAL via a subsidiary company, is not affected.
A HIAL spokesman said: "We have continued to offer further talks and the opportunity to work together to improve future pay awards.
"These offers have not been taken up by the union. We will continue to try to get talks restarted before the second day of action planned for 4 July.
"We deeply regret the impact of the action on both the travelling public and the airlines and have made every effort to avoid this situation."
Action was first planned in May when the union rejected a 2 per cent pay offer for 2007-8.
A 24-hour strike proposed for 9 June was suspended to allow further talks to take place between the company, union and conciliation service ACAS but agreement could not be reached.
The full article contains 285 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
