Let's not get distracted here. Until the other day, no one objected to the salaries, the hours, the pensions ATC earned. No one knew. But you deserve to be well paid simple as that, just like pilots as it happens.
Then you walked out with one day's notice. With utter disdain for the people, who use your service and the strategic interests of this country. Which even you must realise is in deep trouble. You used your power in the most arrogant way possible. You shoved it in the faces of everyone in this country. But in doing so you exposed yourselves. You handed a gift to the IAA and MOL and others. The government knows about you now. They, even with the dinosaur like reactions have suddenly realised there's a tiny group of people who have to power to bring this country to it's knees, even if it wasn't already there. So the no strike option will probably be enacted in due course. The public know about you now too and your pay and wonder exactly what your problem is because of course you have failed to express it cogently. Indeed on this very forum, you refuse. An anonymous forum, I might add.
You claim you want to stop the race to the bottom. Well you are far from the bottom yet. But more, you want a 6% payrise right in the middle of a recession, with significant deflation already evident.
But of course this 'isn't about the payrise'. If I was never in a union. I might believe that. But I spent long enough in unions to know how the game is played. It's about the new technology is it? It's the old union gambit, refuse something new until extra money is paid over. Force the issue and then go on strike when someone gets suspended. It's pathetic at the best of times but these days it's downright unbelievable.
Just how out of touch are you guys with reality out there? Get your heads out of the clouds.
Here's what RTE new reported:
Speaking in the Dáil this morning, Brian Cowen said the travelling public should not be inconvenienced over whatever differences exist at the airports.
He was replying to the Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who said the disruption was disproportionate.
The Dáil is due to debate the dispute this afternoon.
Employers' group IBEC has criticised the stoppage and said there was no reason why the public should be held to ransom in this way.Small and medium enterprises group ISME accused the air traffic controllers of trying to 'sabotage the country'.
It said the message being sent out internationally was that Ireland was closed for business at a time when competitiveness was already challenged.
ISME called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to immediately implement contingency measures to ensure this situation could not be repeated.
Tourism industry worried
The tourism industry has expressed concern about the ongoing uncertainty surrounding air services in and out of the country.
Tourism Chief Executive Frank Magee said the dispute had the poteDublin ntial to have a very negative effect on tourism.
He said figures to the end of November showed visitors to Ireland were down 12%.
'This dispute is the last thing the tourism industry needs.'
John Whelan of the Irish Exporters Association said airport work stoppages could only have a damaging effect on freight and cargo exports.
He said high value goods - and particular pharmaceuticals - with temperature controlled and time sensitive products were most at risk
Look what you stirred up. You were even criticised by Eamonn Gilmore the Labour leader. Not a man noted for his right wing viewpoint.
Disproportionate it was too and an own goal of epic stupidity as seemed to be evidenced by the almost sheepish reaction of the comments to the media coming out of the meeting in Roscrea.
I have to say, you've managed something almost unique. United the country against yourselves, taken the heat of the Irish government and managed to get MOL to speak civilly in support of the IAA.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of your dispute. You and your union have mishandled it appallingly.
Well done!
