Around 100 North Air tanker drivers and airfield operators who provide refuelling services for airlines who fly into and out of Aberdeen, Edinburgh Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, and Stornoway have had a basic minimum wage increase of 4.5 per cent secured by their trade union Unite.

 A 10 per cent increase to the shift allowance will also be applied along with a boost to the company’s driver training and training champion bonus schemes. This could see an increase by up to 150 per cent from £200 to £500 and from £400 to £1,000 in the company bonus schemes. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

“The message to all airport workers is clear, if you want better jobs, pay and conditions – join Unite.”  

As part of the successful pay negotiations, Unite has further 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. 

The union recognition agreements will ensure that North Air tanker drivers based across the North East of Scotland and, the Highlands and Islands airports will now benefit from Unite formally bargaining with the company over pay, terms and conditions. 

Industrial action at Edinburgh Airport across the festive season by North Air tanker drivers was narrowly averted following a last minute enhanced pay offer which was overwhelmingly backed by the membership. The Edinburgh deal also involved a 4.5 per cent basic increase backdated to August and included several significant improvements to the overall pay package.  

Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s lead industrial officer for civil aviation, said: “Unite’s negotiated pay and recognition agreements with North Air means that tanker drivers and airfield operators are now receiving a significant boost to their pay packets. We now have a clear route to achieving even better wages and conditions for  North Air workers going forward.”