Following Fórsa’s call in April for a 20% increase in the number of air traffic controllers (ATCs), the union has commenced formal discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

 

Fórsa’s Air Traffic Control branch told delegates at the union’s Services & Enterprises Divisional conference last month that more controllers were needed in order to maintain safe services against a background of rising demand for air travel.

 

Delegates heard that the current complement of 290 air traffic controllers needed to increase because new recruits were now obliged to sign up to a voluntary overtime scheme due to staff shortages.

 

While large numbers of existing controllers – 70% – are signed up to the voluntary scheme, new entrants were being contractually required to do so.

 

Fórsa assistant general secretary Johnny Fox has confirmed that formal discussions are now underway with the IAA. He said the union is seeking the employment of an additional 50 ATCs in order to address the current shortage. Johnny confirmed that the union is meeting IAA management today (Thursday) and that ATC recruitment is on the meeting agenda.