Unions set to meet aviation authority today

Air traffic controllers and management at the Irish Aviation Authority will meet for talks today at the Labour Relations Court.

They are aimed at resolving the dispute which caused disruption to 20,000 passengers on Wednesday.

The Irish Aviation Authority and the IMAPCT trade union are in dispute over the introduction of new technology and the payment of a 6% pay rise.

Fourteen controllers were suspended this week for failing to co-operate with new technology projects.

The union said that following the invitation by the Labour Court to attend talks, it had deferred any consideration of further industrial action.

However a number of airlines claimed some air traffic controllers were operating an unofficial work to rule.

Earlier yesterday, the transport minister accused air traffic controllers of causing reputational damage to the country - while Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary called for Noel Dempsey's resignation if he was not prepared to provide the leadership to ensure the ability to strike was removed.