Air traffic controllers poised to strike

Air traffic controllers are expected to unveil plans for strike action today after crunch talks with their bosses broke down.

Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports have already seen temporary shutdowns in a now escalating row over staffing levels.

Despite almost 12 hours of negotiations, air traffic controllers’ union Impact and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) failed to reach any agreement yesterday.

Industrial action is now expected to be stepped up after the Labour Relations Commission failed to broker an interim deal between both sides.

“Impact is informing its members about the outcome of the talks, and will make a statement about its intended action,” said a union spokesman.

Last week, air traffic controllers issued a two-week strike notice to management after 99% of workers agreed to an overtime ban and temporary walk-outs.

Impact claims there has been a recruitment ban for the last six years, leaving controllers short-staffed and over-reliant on overtime.

The IAA has said it is disappointed by the planned action and claimed it was a blatant breach of the national wage agreement Towards 2016.

Industrial action is expected to affect all flights in and out of the country and also planes flying over Ireland’s airspace.

Disruption could come as early as next week with union bosses vowing to give the IAA at least seven days notice of the specific time and date of a stoppage.

The IAA has already said the strike action has the potential to cause major disruption to airlines and the travelling public.