KINGSTON, Jamaica – Air traffic controllers returned to their jobs late yesterday ending the industrial action that caused delays and in some instances cancellations of flights into Jamaica.
“The controllers reported last night for the 11:00 pm (local time) shift and service restored to normality with flights coming and departing on time,” said spokesperson for the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) , Nicole Hutchinson.
On Monday, Labour minister Pearnel Charles said he had requested the Solicitor Gneral to start legal proceedings against the air traffic controllers at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and the Sangster International Airport in the second city of Montego Bay after they defied a Supreme Court order to return to work and continued their for increased wages.
The court order barred the workers from further industrial action within a 28-day period.
The Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association is scheduled to meet with Charles and other stakeholders later today to discuss the issues which led to the strike that affected air travel for the past two days. Among the grouses of the workers are the payment of an outstanding seven per cent wage increase due to public sector workers.
The action forced the cancellation of flights into the Sangster International Airport in the second city of Montego Bay
Their action resulted in the cancellation of several flights and left hundreds of passengers stranded at both airports.
President of the Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association, Kurt Solomon, said members had agreed to resume work late Monday, but were prepared to stop work if they agreement on certain issues are not reached during the meeting.
