Australia: ATC apply for strike vote

Air traffic controllers have taken the first steps towards organising their first strike in more than 20 years. Union Civil Air said it would apply to the Fair Work Commission to authorise a vote in a move that could potentially lead to huge delays and cancellations across airports nationwide. Controllers are demanding better “work-life balance” alongside improved pay, but Airservices Australia, the government organisation that oversees ATC, insists it has already offered staff a $75m pay rise comprising 11.2% over three years. It significantly comes after aviation rescue firefighters, also overseen by Airservices, confirmed they would take industrial action, including an overtime ban, from 5 April. “Airservices was clearly warned on multiple occasions about the white-hot anger and despair that exists among employees due to the torrid workplace environment, and the appetite to pursue further action if claims were not met,” Civil Air’s Peter McGuane told The Australian. “They chose to ignore these warnings.” The union said it’s also seeking a 15.4% superannuation contribution to its members but is only being offered 11%. A note to members added that the deadlock hasn’t been broken despite 14 meetings with management since November.<br/>