Around 100 North Air tanker drivers and airfield operators, who provide refuelling services for airlines flying into and out of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Stornoway, are celebrating a wage hike backdated to April.
The pay deal negotiated by union Unite includes a 4% increase to the shift allowance and overtime rates, and double time for weekend overtime rates.
Improvements to paternity leave, rising to full basic pay after 26 weeks service, alongside an additional day of leave, depending on years of service, have also been agreed.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has delivered wage wins for our members at North Air across Scottish airports. The pay deals build on the successes Unite has achieved for North Air workers in recent years.
“Unite is fully committed to driving up the jobs, pay and conditions of workers throughout Scotland’s aviation industry.”
In January Unite confirmed it had secured an extension of its existing recognition agreements with North Air at Aberdeen and Inverness airports to now include workers based at Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Stornoway
Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for civil aviation, said: “Unite has successfully negotiated pay deals with North Air which delivers a year on year boost to the pay packets of tanker drivers and airfield operators.
“These workers are highly skilled and essential to Scotland’s aviation industry. We are delighted to get these wins across the line for North Air workers.”
In its most recent financial results for the year to 31 December 2023, North Air reported that a post-Brexit recovery in air transport had helped boost the company’s revenues to £40.5m (2022: £33.2m), with pre-tax profit rising to £1.9m (2022: £1.1m).
