Air traffic dispute set to escalate

THE dispute by air traffic controllers, which closed Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports yesterday afternoon, looks set to escalate as the stand-off between the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and IMPACT trade union worsened last night.

Yesterday’s industrial action affected 20,000 passengers. IMPACT’s national executive will meet today, after which the dispute could be escalated.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has said the Government may have to enforce “no-strike clauses” for essential services if industrial action causes disruption on a national level.