THE THREAT of further industrial action by air traffic controllers has been lifted following a breakthrough in talks between their trade union Impact and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last night.
The agreement reached last night followed seven hours of talks at the Labour Court.
Under a deal the air traffic controllers agreed to operate work practices which were in place prior to the beginning of the year, including controversial new technology projects if requested by management.
Separately, management at the IAA agreed to lift the suspensions imposed on 14 air traffic controllers earlier this week for refusing to co-operate with the new technology projects.
It was these suspensions which prompted the industrial action by air traffic controllers on Wednesday which caused disruption to 20,000 passengers at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.
This industrial action, which was widely condemned by the Government and business groups, led to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey indicating that he would discuss the issue of a ban on strikes in essential services with Cabinet.
Impact said last night that on foot of the deal the threat of further industrial action had been lifted.
Under the proposals agreed at the Labour Court both parties acknowledged that a bona fide dispute existed between them on whether work on new technology projects constituted normal ongoing change – as contended by the company – or significant change – as maintained by the union.
“The dispute concerning the proper classification of this work will be referred to the court under Section 20 (2) of the Industrial Relations Act 1969 for final and binding adjudication, and both parties agree in advance to be bound by the decision of the court on that question.
“The court will hear the parties on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, and will issue its adjudication as soon as practicable thereafter,” according to the the Labour Court proposals.
The court is also scheduled to deal with a dispute over pay and pension arrangements between air traffic controllers and the IAA on Tuesday.
The union wants the company to implement a 6 per cent pay increase as provided for in the national agreement reached in September 2008.
Management at the IAA is also seeking staff to make a contribution towards their pension fund. At present the company provides a 30 per cent contribution, while most staff make no contribution.
In a statement last night the IAA said it was very pleased that there would be a full resumption of normal working by air traffic controllers with immediate effect and that there would be no industrial action of any kind. The agreement reached last night followed about seven hours of talks at the Labour Court yesterday.
As they arrived at the talks Impact maintained that it was “quite optimistic” that the dispute with the IAA could be resolved.
Impact assistant general secretary Michael Landers said the dispute was now ‘‘where it should be’’.