Airport staff to vote on strike over pay offer

Airport security staff could go out on strike over a pay dispute with Highland and Islands Airports Limited.

Prospect Trade Union said all 160 security staff at 10 airports, including Inverness, Dundee and some islands, had been offered a "miserly" 1% increase to a 拢6.85 hourly rate.

Next month's Scottish Open championship near Inverness could be affected if workers vote for industrial action.

State-owned HIAL said it was confident operations would not be disrupted.

HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said non-security staff could be trained to cover the work.

Transport Scotland said employment and pay was entirely a matter for HIAL and it hoped both sides would continue to negotiate.

The Barclays Scottish Open is scheduled for the Castle Stuart links near Inverness from 7-10 July.

Union spokesman Alan Denney said action could take place in the week beginning 4 July.

He said members were being denied sick or shift payments and overtime rates of pay.

He added: "It is incredible that the Scottish government supports a living wage of 拢7.15 an hour, but is content to allow many of its own staff to work for less without the basic working rights that are standard for any worker in the private or public sectors."