Britons planning to travel through Edinburgh Airport during the Christmas and New Year period may face significant disruptions due to a planned 19-day strike by fuel tanker drivers. The strike, scheduled from 5 AM on December 18 to 4:59 AM on January 6, is a result of a pay dispute between North Air, the sole fuel supplier to the airport, and Unite, the trade union representing the drivers.
The dispute arose after North Air’s offer of a 4.5% pay increase was rejected by Unite. Despite North Air being a highly profitable company, according to Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham, the company has refused to negotiate a better pay deal for its employees. Graham emphasized that North Air can afford to make a fair offer but has chosen not to, and that Unite will continue to support its members in their fight for better jobs, pay, and conditions.
North Air has already agreed to substantial pay increases for other sectors, including a 26.7% hike for Loganair cabin crew, a 12.8% increase for Aberdeen security personnel, and a 12% increase for handlers and customer service personnel. However, the company has been unwilling to engage in salary negotiations with Unite for the fuel tanker drivers.
The strike action is expected to impact a large number of passengers, with over 100,000 travellers anticipated to fly through Edinburgh Airport in the three days leading up to Christmas Eve. Unite’s industrial officer, Carrie Binnie, noted that North Air’s refusal to negotiate has left the union with no option but to proceed with the strike, which could cause widespread travel disruptions during the festive season.
North Air expressed disappointment over Unite’s decision to strike but stated that they remain open to discussions and are committed to minimizing the impact of the strike on travellers. The company highlighted that they had successfully concluded pay negotiations with Unite at six other sites earlier in the year, resulting in a 4.5% pay increase for those employees, which is significantly above current inflation levels.
Edinburgh Airport is working closely with airlines to understand their contingency plans and minimize passenger disruption. Airlines such as Jet2 are monitoring the situation closely and plan to operate all flights according to schedule, with contingency plans in place to limit any disruptions. Passengers are advised to check their flight information regularly for any updates, as airlines will contact customers directly if their flights are affected.
