Air traffic controllers and bosses clash over jobs

AIR traffic controllers and their employer are on a collision course that could lead to strike action as a dispute deepens over the lack of jobs for newly qualified controllers.

The country’s 300 controllers are being balloted to decide whether they should take industrial action up to and including a full scale strike, which would bring Irish air travellers to a standstill. IMPACT’s ATC branch executive is strongly recommending its members in Cork, Dublin and Shannon vote for industrial action. Ballot papers were issued on Tuesday and are due to be returned by midday, August 18.

“After that it will be up to us what range of measures we are going to take,” said Patrick Nochtor, branch general secretary. He added that the executive is willing to pursue the matter through the labour court or any other industrial relations mechanism. But the executive will have the mandate to serve notice to strike.

In a statement, the employers, the Irish Aviation Authority, said: “The IIA could not comment on the alleged action by IMPACT.”

The dispute centres on contracts for newly qualified controllers of whom it emerged last week that none of this year’s 22 successful students have received job offers from the IAA. The students completed their final air traffic control ‘check outs’ last Thursday and all would have expected to be assigned to on-the-job training. But the IAA, which spent €1.2m training them, said none are to be offered full-time contracts. It said it was in discussions with IMPACT and has committed itself to consult with the trainees by September 15, “The authority is in particular examining the possibility that the trainees could be offered work with other ATC authorities,” a spokesperson said.

The students’ training contracts did not contain a commitment of employment but the IAA has admitted the lack of jobs is unprecedented. In the past, some have been sent overseas and it is hoped some will be given positions abroad. A downturn in air traffic following September 11 is partly to blame, according to the IAA. It is further claimed there is overstaffing because of the failure of a voluntary early retirement programme.

Mr Nochtor said the union had hoped to solve the issue through constructive dialogue and without recourse to threats of industrial action.