Australian ATCs seek okay to strike

BTN News
Tuesday, 09 April 2024

Australia's air traffic controllers (ATCs) have filed a 'protected action ballot' with the country's Fair Work Commission.

It closes May 1 and was filed by the Civil Air union. 

If it gets member support, it could include work stoppages of up to 24 hours and bans on some activities.

Civil Air has blamed deadlocked enterprise negotiations for the move.

“Airservices (the employer) was warned on multiple occasions about the white-hot anger and despair that exists among employees due to the torrid workplace environment, and the appetite to pursue further action if claims were not met,” Civil Air’s Peter McGuane told media, adding management "chose to ignore these warnings”.

Airservices responded that a 20 per cent pay rise was behind the action and it had offered an 11.2 per cent pay rise over three years, worth A$78 million as well as the retention of all current conditions.

Elsewhere, aviation rescue firefighters (also employed by Airservices) plan their own industrial action on 15 April.

Australian ATCs seek okay to strike

BTN News
Tuesday, 09 April 2024

Australia's air traffic controllers (ATCs) have filed a 'protected action ballot' with the country's Fair Work Commission.

It closes May 1 and was filed by the Civil Air union. 

If it gets member support, it could include work stoppages of up to 24 hours and bans on some activities.

Civil Air has blamed deadlocked enterprise negotiations for the move.

“Airservices (the employer) was warned on multiple occasions about the white-hot anger and despair that exists among employees due to the torrid workplace environment, and the appetite to pursue further action if claims were not met,” Civil Air’s Peter McGuane told media, adding management "chose to ignore these warnings”.

Airservices responded that a 20 per cent pay rise was behind the action and it had offered an 11.2 per cent pay rise over three years, worth A$78 million as well as the retention of all current conditions.

Elsewhere, aviation rescue firefighters (also employed by Airservices) plan their own industrial action on 15 April.