Air traffic controllers grounded in battle

• Injunction bars JATCA from strike action

Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security yesterday obtained a court injunction forcing members of the Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association (JATCA) to cease strike action.

On Friday, the JATCA served notice that its members would be off the job Sunday (yesterday) in protest against their non-inclusion in a series of meetings aimed at reaching an agreement over the outstanding seven per cent wage increase due to public-sector workers.

Yesterday, quick action by the management of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority averted a possible shutdown at the island's airports after disgruntled workers stayed off the job, causing delays in several flights.

"The management staff at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority had to assume control of the towers ... this morning we experienced several delays but things are slowly returning to normal," Mark Williams, vice-president of commercial development and marketing at the Norman Manley International Airport, told The Gleaner early yesterday afternoon.

averted until june

Hours later, a court injunction was issued, calling for the air traffic controllers to avert all strike action at least until late next month.

"It is hereby ordered that the respondents and all members of the JATCA be restrained from commencing or continuing any industrial action in the form of withdrawing their services or otherwise," the court order read.

It continued: "That the respondents and all the members of the JATCA be restrained for a period of 28 days from causing, encouraging, instigating or participating in any industrial action."

JATCA President Kurt Solomon told The Gleaner yesterday afternoon that he had only just been made aware of the injunction through the media and had not been contacted by any government officials regarding the matter.

Up to press time yesterday, the JATCA executive were locked in a meeting contemplating their next move.