Edinburgh Airport Christmas strike chaos as workers to stage walkout

Edinburgh Airport is facing Christmas strike chaos as tankers prepare to stage a series of walkouts over pay. The industrial action by North Air fuel tankers based at the airport is scheduled to take place over 19 days, starting from 5am on December 18 and lasting until 4.59am on January 6, impacting the festive period. It is anticipated that several key routes will be directly affected by the strike.

Last week, Unite warned that unless North Air made an improved pay offer, strike action during the holiday season was imminent. The dispute stems from a rejected 4.5 per cent pay increase by North Air after years of below inflation pay rises. Unite members have strongly supported the strike action in a bid to secure a better pay deal from the company.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, criticised North Air for refusing to make a fair offer despite being a profitable company. North Air provides refuelling services for domestic and international airlines operating at Edinburgh Airport, including prestigious routes such as United Airlines to New York and Emirates to Dubai, along with Loganair’s domestic flights to the islands.

Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, highlighted the lack of concern shown by North Air towards its workers and the travelling public. With tensions escalating, Unite has confirmed the imminent industrial action, urging North Air to resolve the dispute promptly to avoid significant travel disruptions during the festive season. North Air Limited reported a significant increase in profits and turnover in their latest accounts.

Efforts to obtain comments from Edinburgh Airport and North Air regarding the strike action have been made but have not yet been successful.

In conclusion, the upcoming strike at Edinburgh Airport presents a challenging situation for both the workers and the travelling public, with potential disruptions to key routes during the busy holiday season. The standoff between Unite and North Air underscores the importance of fair pay negotiations and the need for swift resolutions to avoid widespread travel inconveniences. It remains to be seen how the parties involved will navigate this issue to reach a satisfactory outcome for all stakeholders.