Flights at the State’s three main airports are likely to be severely disrupted tomorrow after air traffic controllers confirmed they will take industrial action as part of a dispute over the adoption of new work practices.
A number of airlines have confirmed the disruption of flights ahead of tomorrow's action. The move follows the Irish Aviation Authority’s decision to suspend 15 controllers from Dublin and Shannon airports.
Trade union Impact, which represents the workers, said today it would respond to the suspensions with immediate industrial action at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports.
The union said its members planned to hold work stoppages between 2pm and 6pm at the airports while controllers attend mandatory union meetings.
The Irish Aviation Authority has estimated that as many as 150 flights may be affected by the disruption.
Aer Lingus confirmed this evening that it has cancelled a number of scheduled flights from the three airports to the UK and Europe. The airline advised prospecive passengers to check the status of their flight on its website. Passengers affected by the disruption can rebook their flights "at no additional charge" at www.aerlingus.com. Passengers that choose not to travel have been advised that they may avail of a refund on the website from 7pm tonight.
Ryanair has cancelled almost 50 flights. In a statement this afternoon, it said: "Due to industrial action by overpaid and underworked air traffic controllers in Ireland, Ryanair has been forced to cancel 48 flights tomorrow affecting over 6,000 passengers."
It said it would contact affected passengers directly but warned all intending passengers to check their flight details online.
Impact said 10 controllers had been suspended from Dublin Airport and a further five from Shannon as a result of the dispute.
The issue of new work practices, in particular the adoption of three new technology projects, had been under discussion at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Both parties last Thursday agreed that the matter be referred to the Labour Court at an LRC conciliation conference.
Impact spokesman Michael Landers confirmed the industrial action was “in direct response” to the staff suspensions. He said the core issues have been referred to the Labour Court, and that the IAA should not be suspending staff while the process is ongoing.
But the IAA said it had no alternative but to suspend air traffic control officers who refuse to carry out normal assigned duties “until their demands have been met”.It claimed Impact had instructed controllers not to co-operate with a number of new technology projects unless they were given pay rises for adopting the changes.
IAA spokeswoman Lilian Cassin confirmed it had received official notification of the action.
She said she expected up to 150 flights at the three airports to be affected during the four-hour period of the stoppage. Whether the flights will be delayed or cancelled is a decision for each airline, she said.
The IAA claimed the union’s “real agenda” was to force payment of a 6 per cent pay increase agreed as part of the last partnership agreement.
It also claimed the union was avoiding payment of a contribution towards their pensions, in line with all other public sector staff. The IAA currently pays a contribution of 30.5 per cent of salary to the pension for staff, while employees contribute nothing.
Fine Gael’s tourism spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell called on controllers to call off their action which she said would further damage the “ailing tourism industry”.
“There is no appetite in the current crisis for people in secure jobs to jeopardise those of others,” she said. "The action completely undermines Dublin Airport Authority attempts, announced only yesterday, to lure new airlines into Ireland."