Despite protestations that this was a "strike it rich" walk out, no ATC ever wants to see aircraft delayed or airspace closed. It's against everything we strive for professionally but the issue of no strike clauses makes my blood run cold. When you are pushed to the point where no-one will listen, where the employer simply ignores any pleas or direction from independent arbiters and says they'll do what they like, you must have the option to exercise the right to withdraw your labour otherwise you are simply a slave.
How about looking at clauses binding the employer and employee to abide by an agreement? Or if they can't/won't mandatory powers of the labour court that bind all parties. It's only a dispute if the parties disagree and IAA
certainly disagrees with having to abide by the agreement it's signed up to.
The technological changes discussed are a dramatic departure from current practice but like many ANSPs IAA seems bent on a "Here it is" delivery process rather than trying to build a robust transition strategy that brings the staff that have to use it \along with the "visionaries" that think it's a good idea. From bitter experience I can tell you it doesn't work and years of near misses or worse as the system is slowly fixed will follow. There is a better way and the first step is actually listening to your staff's concerns.
DNC