Air Controllers’ Dispute Settled

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 16

Air Controllers’ Dispute Settled

(New Zealand Press Association'

WELLINGTON, August 19. The Public Service Association has accepted a Government offer on air traffic controllers’ salaries, the secretary of the P.S.A., Mr D. P. Long, confirmed tonight.

Mr Long said the decision to accept the Government’s offer was made la‘e today.

The decision, which ends the dispute, followed an interchange of correspondence with the Government during the last few days, and a meeting with the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) yesterday. The P.S.A. also met the Air Traffic Controllers’ Association yesterday. Mr Long said he was at present unable to release the details of the Government’s latest offer. A full statement would be made on Monday. On Friday last week the Air Traffic Controllers’ Association executive threatened

a partial withdrawal of its services unless the Government agreed to the controllers’ claim for a new pay settlement. The A.T.C.A. claimed that the £5O ruling rate should be added to the salaries of air I traffic controllers on lower grades, and not absorbed by the recently approved pay increases. The Government announced substantial pay rises for the controllers on August 2, but these were rejected. The increases ranged from £635 for regiona airways officers to £4l for air traffic control assistants. The increases were to be effective from January 1, 1965. Immediately after the increases were announced, Mr

Long termed them unacceptable. On Friday last week the association resolved that except for emergency flying all air traffic control services would be withdrawn, except between the hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.