Hial air traffic controllers set strike date

Dundee is one of seven airports affected by the industrial action

Air traffic controllers in a pay dispute with their employer Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) are to go on strike later this month.

The workers' union, Prospect, agreed to suspend a strike planned for 26 April to allow for talks.

But the discussions, facilitated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), broke down last week.

Prospect said a new day of strike action had been set for Thursday 23 May.

Airports that will be directly affected are Dundee, Inverness, Wick, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Stornoway, and Benbecula.

The controllers have been working to rule since the beginning of April.

'Minimise potential disruption'

David Avery, Prospect negotiations officer, said: "Members have run out of patience with Hial.

"Talks have been ongoing for more than a year to seek to resolve this dispute but to no avail."

He added: "Members do not want to take industrial action but have been left with no choice."

Hial said it had to follow Scottish government pay policy. It said the controllers' wage demand "greatly exceeds" the policy.

Managing director Inglis Lyon said: "We are bitterly disappointed talks have not delivered a resolution.

"We are progressing on the assumption strike action will go ahead. We will work closely with our airlines to minimise potential disruption wherever possible."