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A GROUP OF air traffic controllers has written directly to Government to raise concerns of disruption and safety in Irish airspace.
The claims, which were sent in an emailed letter and not communicated via a trade union, include allegations around the safety of the air traffic control system in Irish airspace. They allege the problems have been caused by rostering issues and understaffing.
In a statement the Irish Aviation Authority has refuted the allegations and appealed to the workforce to engage with the industrial relations mechanisms available.
In the letter, seen by The Journal, the controllers level a number of claims at the management of the agency, which is currently undergoing a break up by Government.
The letter documents makes a litany of claims including:
Sources said that 40% of the country’s 300 Air Traffic Controllers had backed the letter, copies of which had been sent to TDs and directly to the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.
As previously reported by this publication, industrial relations concerns have been raised by the workforce in recent months.
Break-up
The IAA is responsible for the management of Irish-controlled airspace, the safety regulation of Irish civil aviation and the oversight of civil aviation security in Ireland.
But under a Government directive the regulatory function must be separated from the business side, which provides commercial air navigation services.
In August Fórsa, the IAA and the Department of Transport all said that they were working through the process of this separation.
But the letter raised concerns about how discussions were being carried out.
The air controllers raise concerns that rostering problems mean air traffic at airports has been come under increased pressure. The IAA, in its statement to The Journal, did not address this directly but appealed to all the workforce to engage with industrial relations mechanisms to air their grievances.
According to the letter from the controllers: “As you are aware on a number of occasions an Air Traffic Control service was not available at State Airports due to a lack of Air Traffic Controllers. Cork Airport closed for a period on the 25th July and Shannon Airport on the 26th July.
“The closure of Dublin Airport on the 6th of August was narrowly averted thanks to the actions of the ATC Branch committee.”
The IAA did not respond directly to queries about the closures mentioned in the letter.
Safety
Serious safety concerns were also raised.
The letter referred to “numerous recent incidents where Air Traffic Controllers are having their rostered duties changed on extremely short notice to cover staff shortages, effectively forcing ATCOs into working positions under protest and duress without any regard for the fatigue such changes cause”.
“I request that such events be investigated by the Air Navigation Safety Division,” the letter said, referring to an IAA oversight body.
The air traffic controllers have said that the rostering issues and staff shortfalls have greatly affected morale.
“Unfortunately it seems to be the case that relations within the IAA have reached an all time low.”
The letter states: “The business model of the IAA requires all ATCOs to participate in an overtime scheme. Originally designed to cover unforeseen staff shortages, the call-in scheme now is used to fill gaps on the roster due to illness absence, regulatory training or project requirements and annual leave.”
In response to a query, Fórsa – which officially represents the controllers – said it had lobbied repeatedly to solve the problem of an over-reliance on overtime.
Disruption
The letter states that unless the problems raised are addressed there will be a “disruption of the delivery of an Air Traffic Control service for the State”.
The letter claimed that some controllers were actively seeking alternative employment.
The letter concludes with a plea to Minister Ryan to intervene.
“My union has communicated with you and your Department officials on many occasions. However there has not been a resolution to the multiple issues as yet.
“It is hard to believe that a group of professionals who have adhered to the best practices of industrial relations and social representation through Dáil Eireann find themselves abandoned.”
Plea for mediation
The IAA said in a statement that it is aware of the letter sent to public representatives “by a number of Air Traffic Control Officers relating to industrial relations matters between the Company and its recognised staff representative bodies”.
“As such, the IAA has provided an update to the Minister for Transport outlining the factual position on the matters raised and refuting the allegations in their entirety.
“The IAA has a long-established industrial relations framework within the Company, which these staff and their representatives should now re-engage with to discuss and resolve these issues,” the statement read.
It said its industrial relations mechanisms includes an Internal Dispute Resolution Board (IDRB). It said that “any staff issues or concerns” can only be dealt with through the agreed industrial relations framework.
“The priority of the IAA and all its staff is safety. This is recognised by international observers who regard the IAA as one of the top air navigation service providers globally and a consistent high performer with regard to compliance with safety standards,” it said.
“We invite those workers who have raised issues to re-engage with the independent disputes resolution process and to work constructively with the Company to find a solution that is satisfactory for staff and the Company and allows us to get on with the important process of rebuilding Irish aviation.”
A Department of Transport spokesperson said the matters raised in the letter were a matter for the IAA and that it would not be commenting.
Fórsa said it was aware that letters had been sent to TDs by IAA employees.
The union said that it does not endorse the call made in the letter for the replacement of the IAA management team but added:
“Fórsa is, however, concerned at the lack of manpower planning in the authority, and has made repeated representations to IAA management about its over-dependence on overtime and on-call arrangements, and on the need to train and employ significant additional numbers of air traffic controllers and related staff”.
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Would more money be helpful
@kevin mc cormack: in the words of Biggie (rest in peace homie)… Mo money mo problems.
@kevin mc cormack: have you actually read the article?
@kevin mc cormack: It’s quite clear that they’re asking for more staff not money.
@kevin mc cormack: come back when you have read the article.
Just like everything in this country. Action will only be taken after a scandal where someone is killed or injured
@Luke Kavanagh: I’m not an ATC nor would I dream of being one I don’t need that stress but some of the comments are staggering. The fact these guys bypassed their trade union shows the gravity of their concerns and as you say Luke nothing seems to happen until death or injury. The old chestnut of this thing doesn’t happen in Ireland.
They only need to make a Negligent Castrastrophic Mistake Once Folks .
Anyway 6 Hours is long enough to be staring at a Screen sure we even tell our children to come away from Computers after 2 hours.
Write away they won’t listen.
Why is the safety concerns of a professional body being referred to industrial relations dispute mechanisms?
This is a perfect example of why the IAA is unfit for purpose, a for profit organisation that relies on the industry it regulates for its profits. What could possibly go wrong?
Picked the wrong day to give up sniffing glue..
Traffic down 50% , never had sympathy for MOl before.
From what I heard both the IAA and NATS (UK ANP) stopped the student training dead in its tracks with the outbreak of CV19.
Barely a plane in the sky for the past 18 months and we’re hearing about fatigue and overworked ATCs. There’s an industrial relations process that needs to be followed. If their grievances are legit then I’m sure arbiters will find in their favour. There’s been no suggestion that ATC numbers have suddenly dropped so why is staffing suddenly an issue.
@GrumpyAulFella: Everything you said has faults…… Plenty of planes in the sky the past few months, particularly since reopening 2 months ago. Recent article saying Ryanair operating 80% of flights……… Last paragraph says that the union have repeatedly brought it to the attention of management, obviously nothing had been done if airports have had to close because of staffing and they’ve resorted to sending letters to the dept of transport……… If they’re heavily reliant on overtime and are understaffed its probably not suddenly an issue.
@Paul Hedderman: Nothing unusual here. It’s his default anti worker position.
@Paul Hedderman: I didn’t say few months, I said 18 months. ATCs were twiddling their thumbs for 12 months snd Aer Lingus are still operating at a fraction of their capacity, hence the cabin crew IR problems.
@GrumpyAulFella: 12 months now is it?!?! Either way your post contradicts whats written in black and white in the article. What has airports closing because they’re understaffed got to do with Aerlingus? If they’re understaffed they’re understaffed, irregardless of aerlingus and their capacity. Simple to understand.
Why is the Department of Transport spokesperson saying the issues raised are a matter for the IAA when this body has been bypassed in order for ATCs to raise these concerns directly? That is ridiculous. I hope they can come up with something better than that before a tragedy happens.
It’s a decrease that the department of transport is passing the buck on this there will be another cover up when desaster happens
Great. Go ahead and pile more misery on the travelling public. We haven’t been able to fly anywhere for almost 18 months, now we’re going to have strikes to contend with.
Write away they’ll never listen though.
@Paul Gorry: I take it you’ve used the same plan once or twice!
@Sean: Yes something isnt quite right about the approach the ATC’s have taken. I’m thinking the root cause to their issues is a PUP induced work related apathy. While extra staff will temporarily alleviate the problems, it will not address asnowflake absenceeism culture.
@Premier Fitters: ATC workers are very highly paid professionals. To suggest this is some sort of PUP apathey is not just laughable but totally exposes your bias!
@Tony Stanley: it must be difficult surviving with the ment@l capacity of a 5 year old. I never insinuated it was financially beneficial to remain on emergency government supports. If you can read
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thejournal.ie/return-to-work-covid-19-
@Premier Fitters: Here’s the words you used: “PUP induced work related apathy”. Here’s the words he used from your comment: “PUP apathey” I don’t think it’s him with a diminished ment@l capacity.
Overpaid princess’s
It’s an issue over who controls the controllers.
A lot of responsibility on air traffic controllers. The smallest of details missed could lead to a major incident, If they have safety worries then people in power should listen and act.
have your say