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ATCs given five percent retroactive payment

Mar 10, 2009 News

Air Traffic Controllers will receive a five percent increase retroactive to January last, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday.
During a meeting with the ATCs, yesterday, the Head of State said that while he has approved the payout, the money will have to be generated from within the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
The President said that to arrive at the additional expense the agency may have to get rid of its excessive administrative staff.
He said that while there is need to hire more ATCs, focus will also be placed on additional training for employees.
“They spoke about training; I agreed with them that we should fund a bit more on the training side…we need to hire more people…so we need to expand the staff at the ATC level.”
At his press conference yesterday afternoon, the Head of State said that when the Air Traffic Controllers were removed from the public service they were treated preferentially.
“They saw a huge jump in their salaries…We then had to decide what revenue streams we have to give to these semi-autonomous agencies with the understanding that the revenue stream will not only go to cover wages cost but operational and often capital improvement.”
In the case of the GCAA, about $700M was spent in improving the standards and the safety.
After striking for a number of days over issues related to increase in salaries, improvements in working conditions among other issues, ATCs returned to work on February 6, last, following the intervention by President Jagdeo.
During the strike, all night flights were cancelled as one controller and one engineer were manning the entire navigation system.
In one instance, the affairs of the airport were almost in chaos as the lone ATC appeared unsure while mixing up the call signs of aircrafts.
Ogle aerodrome was also completely shut down, as no one turned up for duty.
Pilots that were taking off did so at their own risk.
The GCAA has a mandate to provide a safe, orderly and efficient flow of air traffic through the country’s airspace in keeping with the Civil Aviation Act of 2000.

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