Air traffic controllers extend Paphos airport strike

 

Air traffic controllers (ATCs) said today they will extend their strike at Paphos airport, disrupting a further 15 flights, because of an ongoing pay dispute with the government.

According to their announcement, today’s strike, which was scheduled to last from noon until 4 pm, will continue until 7pm tonight. 

It is then set to resume at 7pm tomorrow night and last until 8am on Sunday.

Hermes Airports spokesman Adamos Aspris said eight departures from and seven arrivals at Paphos would be affected.

The ATCs, who are civil servants want to be excluded from a raft of austerity measures that include pension contributions and a two-year pay freeze, passed in December. 

They argue that their income does not affect the state budget because it is governed by a cost-recovery scheme, whereby their salaries are paid by the state, which then recovers the money from airlines using the airports.

The ATCs union (PASEEK) said it is ready to suspend all the protests if the Minister of Communications and Works agreed to jointly establish the agenda for discussion and setting a specific timetable for completion of the dialogue.

PASEEK said: ” the unilateral insistence on setting the agenda for discussion of the minimum service instead of substance, it is unjust and hopeless.”

Last month ATCs shut down the island’s airports for four hours, affecting some 5,000 passengers.

For more information, contact hermes airports on 77778833 or visit http://www.hermesairports.com/

 

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