– 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.
Government should fire all of them. ronald reagan did just that
Right and close down the airport,boats/ships can be used once again!
Saq. And replace them with who? The whole damn country should go on strike. The PPP gov’t. and PNC opposition should go into self exile. Guyana is now the poorest country in the western hemisphere. What a damn shame.
Damned straight. Sure they may have issues that need to be worked out; but obviously since the beloved govt is not responding to the workers (this has been going on for a while), then we must find some alternative. And that can be found in those people who are actively looking for employment and cannot find any. Enough is enough, either that or the airport is going to be closed very soon. Already we cannot even get an airline who is willing to run here on a regular basis. Things just keep getting worse.
saq how about going back to guyana and apply for the open position, since you suggest the govt to fire all of them, if you’re not going to go back and take up the position you should keep quiet.
In the interest of life safety, these persons have chosen to disconnect from that responsibility.They should be relieved of their positions with immediate effect, and others employed in their place.
Maybe you will replace them.
YOU TELL THEM LIKE IT IS. SPEND SOME MONEY AND TRAIN THE FOLKS WHO TRULY WANT TO BE EMPLOYED AND EARN A LIVING. NO WONDER THIS PLACE IS IN SUCH A DAMNED MESS.
caesar. the gov’t gave bonuses to the armed forces for doing a lousy job. These workers, because of their importance, their demands should have been given more urgent attention. What’s good for the goose, is also good for the gander. These workers also families to support. Like I said, the whole damn country should go on strike. They have nothing to loose.
saq- you are right
You will see how right he is when you (Eloise) are on an airplane about to land in Guyana without an air taffic controller.
And you and Saq should be on the plane heading to GT when these over work, under trained and under paid workers is at the control, working 12 hr and 18 hr shift sleepy like hell, one mistake and blame you dead. You guys just talk and have no clue the stressful conditions that these people work under.
Maybe if the President cuts down on some of his extravagant trips to Davos, Libya, Greece and places elsewhere he can use the money to pay these people a bit better and improve CBJ to World Class standards.
Air traffic control should be operated by the military
Air traffic should be taken over by the military.
Striking for all the wrong reasons. What you guys need is a good PR rep. I know you guys have problems, i wrote about it many times but i cannot back you on this one.Leave it up to me i would fire every one of you. Take a tip from me guys, it’s the equipment not the money. YOU GOT IT ?
Moderator, the reporting on this topic is very poor. SN need to sitdown with the ATC rep and get the full story.
With the air traffic controllers they have at the moment things dont go well. The only reason that there are no accidents at timehri, is because the pilots that come to guyana have experience flying there. Planes fly in and out of the interior without air traffic controllers sooooooooooooooo !!!!! let them strike. I wont be flying home in a long time.
John, you said it well Pal.
yess fired all of them we can’t have a few people hold the country at rasom..we are loosing more that gaining. before they accept the job they did know what the salary would be…if it was not ok for them y accept the job and now crying and trying to destroy the country of much needed revenue.