Air Traffic Controllers Labor Relations

Demanding huge pay raises, air-traffic controllers called for a nationwide strike Saturday and succeeded in crippling three major airports, but they suspended the walkout after Russia's vice president threatened them with arrest. Strikers claimed to have temporarily shut down up to 47 airfields, but by evening, news reports indicated that only three--Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg and the airports in Samara and Ekaterinburg--were still idled.

Complaining about a cost-cutting Congress, a dozen air traffic controllers at John Wayne Airport demonstrated Thursday against a proposal to reduce their wages by abolishing a salary incentive designed to attract top applicants. Local controllers joined workers at airports across the United States in opposing salary and benefits cuts. They distributed flyers and urged airline passengers to sign petitions, send letters and make telephone calls to their representatives in Congress.

Belgian air traffic controllers resumed a strike Thursday after talks with government officials for higher pay failed. The Belgian airline Sabena said it was forced to cancel several European flights because of the strike.

Clinton Weighs Ending Air Controller Ban: President Clinton is considering lifting a ban on federal hiring of air traffic controllers involved in an illegal strike more than a decade ago, the White House said. The ban was imposed by then-President Ronald Reagan after members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers' Organization walked off the job shortly after Reagan took office in 1981.

The Greek capital's airport was shut down Thursday in a 24-hour strike by air traffic controllers and other workers seeking bonuses for dangerous or stress-filled jobs. A labor union spokesman said more than 70,000 workers have joined the walkout, including airport, railroad and harbor workers and state hospital and veterinary employees.

Air traffic controllers in Barcelona announced Friday that they will stage a 24-hour strike today that could affect as many as 1,400 holiday flights through Spanish airspace. About 140 controllers are to take part in the walkout to demand overtime pay that they say is owed from the past eight years.

Air traffic controllers, whose union was disbanded after a 1981 illegal strike that saw 11,400 controllers fired, will decide this June whether once again to embrace unionism, according to an agreement. The National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. said it had reached agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration on an election June 11 in which about 12,500 controllers will decide whether to have the association as their bargaining agent.

Clinton Weighs Ending Air Controller Ban: President Clinton is considering lifting a ban on federal hiring of air traffic controllers involved in an illegal strike more than a decade ago, the White House said. The ban was imposed by then-President Ronald Reagan after members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers' Organization walked off the job shortly after Reagan took office in 1981.

Air controllers called off a walkout after reaching a last-minute agreement with the government. The Soviet Air Traffic Controllers' Trade Union said it reserves the right to resume strike plans if the government reneges on its promises. The walkout would have crippled Soviet air traffic. A union representing 57,000 pilots for Aeroflot, the national airline, had threatened to join the strike if its demands, similar to those of the controllers, were not met.

Union leaders have predicted easy approval of the first labor contract for air traffic controllers since President Reagan fired 11,400 of them during a strike eight years ago. The new three-year contract with the Federal Aviation Administration will help ensure air safety, R. Steve Bell, president of the year-old National Air Traffic Controllers Assn., said late last week.

A sickout by Jamaican air controllers Wednesday shut down one of the Caribbean island's international airports and sharply curtailed flights at another, disrupting the winter tourist season. All major airlines serving Jamaica, including American, Continental and British Airways, were forced to cancel all flights Tuesday evening. Only Air Jamaica continued to operate.

Demanding huge pay raises, air-traffic controllers called for a nationwide strike Saturday and succeeded in crippling three major airports, but they suspended the walkout after Russia's vice president threatened them with arrest. Strikers claimed to have temporarily shut down up to 47 airfields, but by evening, news reports indicated that only three--Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg and the airports in Samara and Ekaterinburg--were still idled.

Russian air-traffic controllers are threatening to halt air travel across their vast country Friday, complaining that their commercial flights are disrupted because of military operations. According to the Ministry of Air Transport, however, the only issues on the bargaining table are demands for higher salaries and reorganization of the bureaucracy that governs the traffic controllers' work.

The Federal Aviation Administration has rejected appeals from air-traffic controllers at Van Nuys Airport, the nation's busiest general aviation airfield, to increase salaries and staffing in the control tower there. The request by the Van Nuys chapter of the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn.

Air controllers called off a walkout after reaching a last-minute agreement with the government. The Soviet Air Traffic Controllers' Trade Union said it reserves the right to resume strike plans if the government reneges on its promises. The walkout would have crippled Soviet air traffic. A union representing 57,000 pilots for Aeroflot, the national airline, had threatened to join the strike if its demands, similar to those of the controllers, were not met.

Soviet air traffic controllers called off a potentially damaging strike late Monday, and another body blow to the faltering economy was narrowly averted. Officials of the controllers' trade union said the government has agreed on an interim pay raise of 50% and further negotiations. The strike was suspended until Aug. 10. Further details were not available.

A 24-hour strike by French air traffic controllers plunged European flights to and from France into chaos Thursday. A spokesman for the national airline Air France said that only 15% of its medium-haul flights would operate. Long-distance flights would not be affected, he said. Foreign airlines using Paris airports said they would cancel nearly a quarter of their 443 flights and postpone 29 others until today.

Belgian air traffic controllers resumed a strike Thursday after talks with government officials for higher pay failed. The Belgian airline Sabena said it was forced to cancel several European flights because of the strike.

Union leaders have predicted easy approval of the first labor contract for air traffic controllers since President Reagan fired 11,400 of them during a strike eight years ago. The new three-year contract with the Federal Aviation Administration will help ensure air safety, R. Steve Bell, president of the year-old National Air Traffic Controllers Assn., said late last week.