Sack signals in air, strike’ continues

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Reacting to the numerous delays at the Delhi airport and complaints from various Airlines operating in and out of the ...

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Reacting to the numerous delays at the Delhi airport and complaints from various Airlines operating in and out of the city, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to sack people “found responsible for delaying flights”. This decision comes in wake of the “agitation by air traffic controllers for a better pay packet”, which the controllers deny.

As the war of words between the authority and the controllers continued, passengers were left in the lurch yet again. Passengers boarded the aircraft and then sat for hours before the take-off was cleared. Those flying into the city were forced to hover over the city before landing was cleared.

To counter these delays, the AAI has also come up with a contingency plan. According to the plan, in case the “agitation intensifies”, Air Force personnel will be deployed to man the towers and ensure that there is no disruption in the functioning of the airports. The first phase of this operation will cover major domestic airports.

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The AAI management has stated that the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) Guild is holding “the travelling public and their own organisation to ransom by resorting to tactics of go-slow and disruptions”.

On their part, the ATC Guild has reiterated that there is “no agitation” and that they are waiting to hear from the AAI on the presentation they made on the remuneration issue last Wednesday. Guild members have clarified that in the detailed presentation to the AAI management, they have explained their demands and clarified doubts. “The management now needs to get back to us,” says a member.

Members of the ATC add that a 1995 High Court injunction restrains them from going on any agitation. “An injunction from High Court following a petition by AAI directed us to work as per our terms and conditions. This was when we had planned an agitation. Following the injunction, there is no question of us being on any kind of strike.”

All the delays at both the domestic and international terminals are being blamed on the new ATC system. Controllers say that the problems they had perceived before shifting to the new tower are manifesting now. The reasons for the delays, according to ATC Guild are new equipment, infrastructure and the fact that the instrument landing system (ILS) on the main runway has not been operational since January 27.

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According to AAI, the controllers are demanding pay parity with pilots of Indian Airlines and Air India and reduction in duty hours from 42 to 36 hours a week, among other things.

Guild members clarify that they have never asked for parity with pilots. Explaining their demands, a member says: “We are asking for parity in status of remuneration not parity of scales. We want the AAI to see the pay ratio between ATCs and pilots in other countries where there were similar conditions and apply it to the socio-economic conditions here. This concept is not the same as parity of salaries.”