Air traffic controllers agree to talks
21/01/2010 - 16:59:18Air traffic controllers today deferred plans for another crippling strike in favour of talks to resolve the bitter row.
Trade union Impact warned of further industrial action unless aviation chiefs reinstated 14 controllers suspended for refusing to co-operate with new working arrangements.
More than 150 flights were grounded yesterday when Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports shut down for up to four hours.
But the two sides have agreed to attend a meeting convened by the State’s industrial relations trouble-shooters at the Labour Court tomorrow.
The union said: “It provides an opportunity to address all of the matters in dispute between both parties, including the issue of suspended staff, which Impact believes should be restored to the payroll as soon as possible.”
The IAA welcomed the return to talks but could not say if the suspensions would be lifted.
The body said it had always been available to meet in the Labour Court, adding that any discussion would have to link the issues of pay increases, pension contributions, and work practices.
A spokeswoman said: “We have an invitation from the chairman of the Labour Court to attend the Labour Court which we will be accepting.
“We are very pleased to go back into talks. It is the best chance of finding a resolution to this.
“We’ve always been available for talks but yes we’re glad to have a date and a time.”
Senior union officials met in Roscrea, Co Tipperary to discuss yesterday’s four-hour work stoppage, which caused travel misery for thousands of passengers who faced cancelled flights.
Impact had threatened further strikes unless the suspensions were lifted.
But they said they wanted to reach agreement before escalating their actions and were making no pre-conditions going into the talks.
The strike prompted business chiefs and politicians to round on the controllers, claiming they were holding the country to ransom and damaging its image overseas.
Trade union umbrella group Congress and business lobby group Ibec have also intervened in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary accused the air traffic controllers of blackmailing the state into giving them a pay rise.
The budget airline boss said Transport Minister Noel Dempsey should have ordered the striking controllers to return to work or face being sacked.
“This is the air traffic controllers and Impact blackmailing the IAA and the travelling public into conceding a 6% pay increase at a time when they are handling 25% fewer flights.”
Mr O’Leary said he backed the IAA’s stance and called for more strikes now rather than wait until the busy Easter and summer seasons.
He said Ryanair would pay around 60% of IAA’s airline fees, adding the controllers were already well paid and contributed nothing to their pensions.
“I would welcome more strikes, more airport closures now, because we’re better off to lance this boil in the third week of January.
“It’s blackmail by a bunch of people who want a €10,000 pay increase this year, when inflation is minus five and when they’re handling 25% fewer flights.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Mr Dempsey have appealed to both sides to resolve their differences and use the Labour Court.
<-- BACK TO STORY