Prospect air traffic controllers at Norwich Airport to take industrial action over pay and conditions
Air traffic control staff working in the tower at Norwich Airport Ltd (NAL) have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a dispute over pay.
These staff in Norwich are paid significantly less than the UK market rate and have substandard maternity and paternity cover.
Action short of a strike will commence on 17 August and include working to contract and withdrawal of goodwill. Decisions on timing of any possible strike action will be decided in due course.
It is expected that even taking action short of a strike and refusing to work overtime will result in the closure of the airport. This is because there are inadequate staffing levels to safely operate without relying on staff working overtime.
In the ballot 100% of members indicated they were willing to take action short of a strike. 78% indicated they were willing to take strike action. Turnout was 100%.
Prospect is demanding action to bring pay in line with market comparators, which would require a 10% pay rise. NAL have offered only 3% for 2026 and the same for 2027.
Members are also demanding improved maternity and paternity leave where currently only statutory parental arrangements currently apply. The union is asking for 4 months full pay, 4 months half pay and 4 months statutory maternity leave, and 1-month full paid paternity leave.
Prospect National Secretary David Avery said:
“Norwich Airport is only able to operate because of the goodwill of its air traffic control staff. The airport’s continuing refusal to countenance bringing pay and parental leave in line with the market means that that goodwill has evaporated.
“All members want is to be treated the same as their counterparts elsewhere in the country.
“We don’t want to take this strike action, especially at a time when it will impact people’s holidays, but we have been left with no choice. NAL can still avert this action but they need to come back to the table with deliverable and fair plan.”
Prospect rep Scott Sapey said:
“Our priority as air traffic controllers is safety. This becomes increasingly difficult to maintain if air traffic control is continually understaffed.
“The recruitment and retention of air traffic controllers should be the airport’s priority. This can be achieved by offering fair pay and conditions that are in line and comparable to other air traffic control units within the industry.
“Industrial action is always a last resort, and we’ve remained ready to negotiate throughout this dispute process. We have continued to call on the airport management to agree to a fair deal for our members.”
