Air traffic controllers in crunch talks
Crunch talks will be held on Monday in a bid to avert strike action that could ground almost 900 flights in and out of Ireland, it was announced today.
Irish air traffic controllers revealed plans to stage a 24-hour walk out at the country’s three biggest airports – Dublin, Cork and Shannon – next Thursday.
Tens of thousands of passengers will be affected by the dispute, which is set to cripple all services to, from, and over the Republic’s airspace.
Further unofficial action at Cork tonight has already resulted in the cancellation of two Aer Lingus flights.
Impact, the air traffic controller’s union, maintains the row is over staff shortages, while the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has insisted it is about rosters and overtime.
Industrial trouble shooters will host talks between the parties on Monday in an attempted to hammer out a deal.
A spokesman for the union said the move to the Labour Courts was a positive step.
“Whatever decisions they make will be binding,” he added.
Last month air traffic controllers withdrew from a voluntary overtime scheme to cover for absent colleagues, resulting in temporary shutdowns at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports.
Air traffic controllers claim there has been a recruitment ban for the last six years, leaving controllers short-staffed and over-reliant on overtime.
A two-week strike notice was issued to management last Tuesday after 99% of workers agreed to an overtime ban and temporary walk-outs.
An Impact spokesman said the union regretted that almost 12 hours of talks with the IAA yesterday ended without a breakthrough, adding the strike was necessary.
The IAA said it was extremely disappointed by the union’s move and appealed for members to call off what it said was unnecessary disruptive action.
It maintained any action was a blatant breach of industrial relations procedures, including the current National Agreement T-2016 and the Continuity of Service Agreement, and has the potential to cause major disruption to airlines and the travelling public.
A spokeswoman said: “Safety is the Authority’s highest priority and we will ensure that aircraft and passenger safety is not jeopardised by any disruptive action by air traffic controllers.
“The Authority appeals to Impact and to the controllers to desist from this totally unnecessary disruptive action which will cause great inconvenience to airlines and the travelling public, and to await the outcome of the Labour Court process.”
Ryanair later claimed air traffic controllers were earning around €140,000 a year, and accused union members of pursuing unreasonable demands including a reduction in an already low working week, a 15% pay increase just to volunteer for overtime, and an overtime rate of €1,200 per day.
“Ryanair and our passengers fully support the IAA’s rejection of these unjustified and excessive demands from an out of control public sector union,” said airline boss Michael O’Leary.
An Impact spokesman said the reported demands and figures were speculative, adding that Ryanair would not be privy to negotiations.
