– Mohammed said Timehri not affected, but Ogle closed

About 20 air traffic controllers went on strike yesterday but Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) interim director Zulficar Mohammed said the industrial action has not affected the operations at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The air traffic controllers decided to go on strike after efforts failed to amicably work out a number of issues, chief among them retroactive payments, with the government.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Mohammed stated that some of the workers did not turn up for work “but we are still functioning”.

He added that flights were also in operation in spite of the situation.

A source subsequently told this newspaper that operations at the airport were going to be shut down from 6 pm yesterday to five this morning but Mohammed denied that this was the case. He told this newspaper that he could not say how many persons had stayed away from work but “the number we have is enough to run the airport”.

The source stated that about 20 of the workers took industrial action by either staying home or reporting sick adding that at the moment the system is being run by the administrative staff.

According to the source this action will continue until a number of issues including a 10% increase in salaries and retroactive overtime is settled to the satisfaction of the disgruntled workers. Stabroek News was told that the situation had affect flights plans as several have already been changed.

The source said the situation has also affected operations at the Ogle Aerodrome, which has been closed for the past two weeks. This was confirmed by Mohammed.

Additionally, an air traffic controllers training course has been postponed indefinitely and according to the source, the trainees are concerned as they were made to sign contracts. There have been no classes for the past two weeks. The course which was scheduled to run for 18 months began about seven months ago.

The situation had also affected the Aeronautical Information Centre which has been closed for the last two weeks.

The source added that the administrative staff cannot take industrial action but they too are being affected since they will have to work overtime and may sooner or later find ways to inflict pressure themselves.

This newspaper was informed on Friday night that the Guyana Public Service Union sent management notice of the strike action earlier in the day and most of the staff members were inclined to take part. The impasse came about when Minister of Transport and Works Robeson Benn said he was willing to meet them but there was no money to pay them and so there was no point discussing that issue.

The issues include retroactive overtime payment on salary scale adjustments, a 10 per cent increase in wages and salaries for last year and salary and leave advances. Additionally, workers want management to address the issue of substantive appointments as well as maximum work hours per month for Air Navigation Services staff. The employees are also asking for better training for staff and duty-free concessions for senior staff members.