The whole argument about a salary increase is a side issue. The 6% claim was awarded about 18 months ago under the Towards 2016 framework. This 6% has been pursued for over 18 months through
legal processes, independent assessment of the issue has concluded in favour of staff, yet the IAA still refuses to budge as it says the independent assessment is wrong (awsure!).
This is not the issue of the industrial action for tomorrow.
The dispute which has led to tomorrows action is about the roll out of new technology. Technologies such as controllers working without planners; ie solo ops in sometimes very busy radar environments;
ie no new technology at all, just changed work practices; ie it gets busier individually and you are put under more stress; to boot they have attempted to move the minimum retirement age from 60 to 65. The dispute has been brought to ahead because the IAA will not negotiate about the new 'technologies'. Impact has told it's members not to participate in these projects (development of them, not implementation); the IAA has suspended 15 people without pay because of the non compliance; which was instigated because the IAA won't talk.
MOLs numbers don't stack up; how many ATCs have left in the last 2 years (retirements and resignations) how many have been recruited? 90(odd)% of Irish traffic (revenues at least) are overflights; so what's happening at the airports does not represent what's happening to the traffic.
There is a huge discrepancy in facts getting into the media. The IAA announced before Christmas without consultation that there would be massive changes to pensions and that no 'annual' increments would be paid before the end of 2012;
all illegal and all without consultation.
2010 Irish ATC dispute – get the facts
But the classic line of "never let the facts get in the way of a good story" have never been truer.
Irish out.