Irish air-traffic control dispute talks fail

Travellers were today warned of possible delays after talks to resolve a dispute involving Irish air-traffic controllers failed.

With employees at Dublin Airport refusing to work overtime, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has referred the matter to industrial relations trouble-shooters.

Union chiefs at Impact described the negotiations as positive.

“While Impact regarded the talks as largely positive, progress was made on some issues, but significant differences remain,” the union said.

“Air-traffic control staff will continue to work their normal shift rotations, but will not volunteer for overtime until further progress is made on the issue of staff shortages.”

Workers took unofficial action banning overtime and claimed that a recruitment freeze had been in place since the September 11 attacks in New York more than six years ago.

Staff insisted they will continue to work normal shifts but their overtime ban risks disrupting flights through Dublin.

The IAA said they had asked the Labour Relations Commission to look into the dispute as a matter of urgency and insisted normal service was being operated at Dublin Airport.

“However, continuation of the unofficial action by controllers could lead to delays, because, in the interests of safety, the Authority would have to restrict the number of aircraft using Dublin’s airspace,” the IAA said.