Fed: Air traffic controllers to stopwork on Friday

00-00-0000
Fed: Air traffic controllers to stopwork on Friday

MELBOURNE, Aug 27 AAP - Australian air travellers face a weekend of disruptions, withair traffic controllers set to walk off the job for five hours on Friday.

Civil Air, the union representing more than 1,100 air traffic controllers, has votedto stop work nationwide from 5pm (AEST) to 10pm (AEST) on Friday.

Plans for a stopwork meeting were called off in July but Civil Air secretary PeterMcGuane said talks with employer Air Services Australia had again broken down.

The parties have been in negotiation over a new workplace agreement since February last year.

"Air traffic controllers had given in-principle agreement after negotiations over thepast month, but it became apparent that Air Services Australia's interpretation of theagreement was different to ours," Mr McGuane said in a statement.

"Sticking points include fatigue issues, arrangements for personal leave and recognitionof the full range of air traffic control job responsibilities."

Mr McGuane said air traffic controllers had endured a two-year wage freeze despiteAir Services Australia reporting healthy profits.

The industrial action follows two strikes in the past month by more than 6,000 AustralianServices Union (ASU) members over a long-running dispute with Qantas over wages and conditions.

AAP svm/clr/ph/sb R

KEYWORD: CONTROLLERS