Tanker drivers at Edinburgh Airport are threatening to ground flights over Christmas in a pay dispute, despite being offered a 4.5 per cent rise.
Workers at North Air, the sole aviation fuel supplier at Scotland’s busiest airport, have rejected the above-inflation deal and voted overwhelmingly to strike.
Unite the Union has warned that if no improved offer is made, it will announce strike dates within days, potentially causing widespread disruption during the peak festive period.
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “North Air is a profitable company and there is no excuse for not making an improved pay offer to our tanker drivers.”
The strikes would cause ‘widespread disruption’ over Christmas
PA
The union revealed North Air’s profits increased to £1.9million in 2023, with turnover rising to £40.4million.
Unite said that North Air had already agreed to higher pay for several other sectors with a 26.7 per cent rise for Loganair cabin crew, a 12.8 per cent uplift for security staff in Aberdeen and a 12 per cent rise for baggage handlers, customer service and drivers in Glasgow.
The potential strike threatens to disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 people who typically pass through Edinburgh Airport in the three days before Christmas Eve.
Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: “Pay at North Air has not kept up with inflation despite the company being profitable.
“If strike action happens, which would cause widespread disruption over the festive season, then it’s on North Air’s heads… Unite will always support our members in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.
Carrie Binnie explained that Unite believe North Air are the ones failing to deal with the issue. She said: “They are choosing to escalate this dispute, rather than choosing to resolve it which they could do easily. Unless the company quickly comes to its senses, we will have no option but to issue strike dates in the coming days.”
North Air provides refuelling services for both domestic and international airlines operating from Edinburgh Airport.
Several prestigious routes face possible cancellation, including United Airlines services to New York and Emirates flights to Dubai. Loganair’s domestic routes to the Scottish islands could also be affected by the industrial action.
The strikes could ground flights to New York and Dubai
GETTY
As North Air is Edinburgh Airport’s only fuel supplier, the impact of any strike would be felt across both domestic and international operations.
Edinburgh Airport and North Air have been approached for comment.
Some 72 per cent of professional drivers are also pondering strike action over the Christmas season.
A new survey of more than 500 professional drivers found that almost half of people were frustrated about their pay not keeping up with the rising cost of living.