CAIRO: Air Traffic Controllers Association held an emergency meeting urging the Ministry of Social Solidarity to cancel the decision to freeze their bank accounts and halt any retaliatory action against the association or its board of directors. Captain Magdy Abdel Hady, director of the Air Traffic Controllers' Association, believes that the decision is politically-motivated. "When we inquired about the reasons for this surprise decision, we found out that it had nothing to do with any irregularities on our records, but it revolves around alleged political acts like calling for strike actions in 2005, said Abdel Hady. Khaled Ali, the director of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, concurred. "There have been many retaliatory acts against members including administrative sanctions that came after a sit-in they held in June 2009 in front of the of the Ministry of Civil Aviation building, he said. The Ministry of Social Solidarity sent an inspection committee earlier this week requesting to check all the association's bills and records, without informing the board of the date, mission or objectives behind the spot inspection. Head of the Directorate of Social Solidarity, Sayda Hassan, however denied the allegation. "We had an agreement to inspect the financial records of the association to prepare for a final decision on opening bank accounts and to discuss the employees' problems, she said. According to Captain Ahmed Amin, chair of the association, their organization supports its 650 members and provides them with social services in cases of dismissal, resignation, death or retirement. He added that the association is funded by contributions from its members and does not receive any funds or benefits from any government or non-governmental body. The stand-off between the Air Traffic Controllers' Association and the Ministry of Civil Aviation began after a protest in 2005, when the controllers demanded a 100 percent salary increase, better health insurance and permanent contracts. The protest lasted four weeks leading to the complete paralysis of Egyptian airports, costing the national carrier, EgyptAir, an estimated $40 million.
