Air Traffic Controllers work to rule

Air Traffic Controllers at Katunayake, Ratmalana and Mattala airports launched a work to rule campaign yesterday afternoon, demanding immediate rectification on salary anomalies.

The trade union action came after the Board of Airport and Aviation Services failed to meet the demands by Air Traffic Controllers to be granted a special professional allowance, on par with Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineering Officers, Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Saman Ediriweera said. 

Air Traffic Controllers’ Association of Sri Lanka (ATCSL) in a statement said that international overflying aircraft will be exempt from work-to-rule procedures as disruption to routine work patterns for such aircraft could potentially put, “neighbouring Flight Information Regions (Male, Melbourne, Jakarta, Chennai and Trivandrum) in a difficult situation, and could quickly develop into a regional matter.” 

However they warned that if demands are not met, “In a satisfactory manner within a reasonable period of time, or in the event where management is observed to be taking detours instead of taking a genuine effort to resolve the matter,” the trade union action will escalate to include overflying aircraft as well. 

ATCSL claimed that the Board has arbitrarily awarded an allowance increase to only certain employee categories when the anomalies have been already referred to SLIDA for investigation. 

“If the board can increase the allowance of one category in such a manner then they can do the same for us,” ATCSL Vice President Tharindu Gajadeera claimed.