Air traffic controllers’ union calls new strikes

USCA air traffic controllers’ union has approved plans to call two partial strikes on September 26 and October 3.

The union announced that strikes would take place on both days from 6am to 6pm to protest at Enaire’s lack of will to negotiate removal of punishments issued to controllers in 2010 when air space was closed.

The controllers will be continuing with strikes they started months ago which led to eight two- to three-hour-long strikes in June and July but were suspended in August to avoid disruption for passengers.

According to the union, Enaire has showed no will to negotiate or resolve the conflict and also appears unbothered by the effects strikes could cause to air travel passengers, leading it to feel obliged to resume the strikes.

USCA said it hoped Enaire and the government would not insist on what it called abusive minimum service demands as occurred in June and July.