In 2000, the Labour Court recommended that Irish Aviation Authority offer a total 15% pay increase to 300 air traffic control officers, including the 2% provided for under Partnership 2000. The recommendation was signed on 29 September 2000.
Irish Municipal, Public And Civil Trade Union had sought a 27% increase, arguing that the Authority’s cost model did not account for savings in training. The Authority said the model was transparent and audited, and opposed using training savings to calculate the increase.
The Court found that restructuring could produce 5% in additional payroll savings beyond those identified by the Authority. Its recommendation was conditional on the union agreeing to all the changes sought by the Authority. The increase was to apply at each point of the scale, with phasing agreed to reflect when the savings would be realised. The Court also noted that the Continuity Agreement precluded industrial action until its procedures had been exhausted.