Air traffic controllers threatened to stage a partial strike if their demands were not considered. Aviation authorities said the controllers ought to watch their step, reports Amirah Ibrahim The third round in the ongoing confrontation between aviation authorities and air traffic controllers was poised to begin this week, as the Air Controllers Union held a general meeting to discuss its dispute with aviation authorities over wage increases and the dismissal of two employees. "This time we will do things in a legal manner that is recognised internationally," said Union Chief Magdi Abdel-Hadi. "When we protested in May against unfair measures to punish eight of our colleagues, the minister fired five controllers, including myself, saying that we should have used a more legitimate way of protesting. That's why we have now decided to try other methods of making our complaints heard." The first round of the battle took place in March, when air traffic controllers staged a weeklong sit-in to protest against low wages, retirement bonuses and social conditions. In May, controllers protested against the punishment of eight colleagues; this second round resulted in three weeks of major delays at airports across the country. The national carrier alone lost $40 million; several Arab and foreign carriers also demanded huge amounts of compensation. This time, the air traffic controllers plan to do things differently. If the company does not respond to their demands -- which still include the settlement of issues like wages, retirement bonuses, and promotions, as well as new demands like reinstating their fired colleagues -- the controllers have threatened to stage a three-day sit-in from 4-6 August. They will also go on strike at all airports for four hours on the first day. Air Navigation Chairman Ahmed Said said the controllers had not officially informed the company of any such plans. "We have no news so far regarding those warnings," he added, "In case of a strike, we will follow the routine procedures recognised internationally, issuing a 'Pilot Announcement', to inform airlines about the air traffic delays for the duration specified, so that they can shift flight schedules and make necessary rearrangements." The controllers have also tried to take their issue to higher authorities. "We called the International Air Controllers Federation to send a delegation to mediate with Egyptian aviation authorities in solving the dispute," Abdel-Hadi said. Petitions will also be sent to President Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to help them negotiate with aviation authorities. The controllers have also decided to file a lawsuit against the aviation minister for allegedly insulting them in public. "We will also file a complaint with the National Council For Human Rights about the unfair treatment we received from both the aviation minister and the company," Abdel-Hadi said. He said 160 controllers attended the meeting, a quorum that lent legitimacy to its decisions. In response, Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq warned the controllers against placing themselves in more of a quagmire. "Anyone who would damage the country's interests, will only harm himself," Shafiq told Al-Ahram Weekly. "The law prohibits strikes, and we are prepared to apply the law against any violations. And those workers in vital and strategic sectors who go on strike face imprisonment punishments. My advice to my sons is to watch their steps very carefully," Shafiq warned. The minister said the law "restricts union activities to just providing social services for members. If they go beyond those lines, they will place themselves in trouble's way." Shafiq also questioned the legitimacy of Abdel-Hadi's leading the controllers. "He was dismissed two months ago, and thus does not belong to the air controllers sector any more. Being a union chief, even though he is no longer a company employee, is a violation of regulations." The minister said that the company had studied the controllers' demands and already decided which ones could be met, and which were impossible. "They made silly suggestions regarding ways to increase their wages -- things like imposing stamp fees on passenger tickets. These ideas show how naïve they are." The controllers are demanding an immediate doubling of their total income, followed by a 25 per cent increase for two years, and then a 10 per cent increase annually. "The company has already replied to their demands. They claim they are underpaid, but their incomes are documented by governmental bodies controlling the wages of civil employees." Shafiq said the controllers had received bonuses last year that exceeded 30 per cent of their total income. "To ask for equal payments with controllers in other countries is not a pretext we can consider. There is no list for air controllers' wages set by international aviation bodies. If we increase controllers' wages, we will be obliged to increase all other sectors that are also important to aviation. That is why we respond carefully to such demands," Shafiq explained. According to the company chairman, the administration maintains a good relationship with the majority of its staff of controllers. He also warned that those who mastermind protests and cause trouble would only hurt their colleagues. "The May crisis cost he company a lot; we only rely on selling navigation services to arriving, departing and crossing aircraft," Said said. "When they force airlines -- via strikes and slow-downs -- to scale back operations, controllers will see that their bonuses and even salaries will be badly affected as a result."
