Air traffic controllers should get pay hike: Labour Court

THE Labour Court has said air traffic controllers who ground the country’s three main airports to a halt last week, should be given the 6% pay increase recommended under the last national wage agreement.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) had claimed it was in not in a position to pay the increases at the present time due to financial difficulties it experienced as a result of the downturn in the aviation sector.

It claimed last week’s strike had been sparked by its refusal to pay the increases. However, the controllers’ union IMPACT claimed that was incorrect and that the strike was due to IAA suspending 14 staff for refusing to work with new technology.