00:00According to TTADCA, air traffic controllers face issues such as staff shortages and a
00:06lack of representation, as workers are still fighting for the right to a recognized majority
00:12union.
00:13Trinidad and Tobago Air Traffic Control is responsible for three-quarter million square
00:18miles of airspace, spanning as far as above the Eastern Caribbean and halfway across the
00:22Atlantic Ocean.
00:23But of just about 100 air traffic controllers, the Trinidad and Tobago Air Traffic Control
00:29Association admits staffing is a concern.
00:34One of the challenges that we have, it's a challenge that faces the global fraternity,
00:37it's staffing shortages and we, our Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken an extensive
00:44training drive because training is the only way to solve the staffing issue.
00:52So we have undertaken a huge training drive, I'm also an air traffic instructor and we
00:57anticipate by 2026 our staffing should be at adequate numbers.
01:01I'd say roughly we're about 65% of the controllers that we need to have in all our facilities,
01:07however even though that we are below the requirements, our operations do not suffer.
01:12Air traffic controllers also face other labor-related issues, such as wage negotiations, particularly
01:18in light of the fact that they currently do not have the benefit of collective bargaining.
01:23Our union is the Public Services Association, however that matter is in court, there's an
01:29issue with recognition that is presently at the Privy Council, we are waiting indeed for
01:33hearing for that matter.
01:35As essential workers, air traffic controllers are prohibited from certain industrial actions.
01:41But with Carbon Airlines pilots having recently staged protest action, calling on the government
01:47to settle outstanding wages and increments, TV6 News asked whether similar action could
01:52be expected from the air traffic control staff.
01:54So what could we anticipate for air traffic controllers?
01:58Seamless service, safe skies.
02:01The situation is one which President of the Public Services Association, Leroy Batiste,
02:05likens to the pending establishment of the Revenue Authority and the migration of workers.
02:11Much like how we have Board of Inland Revenue or the custom workers being public officers
02:17now and they are now looking to put them across in the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue
02:21Authority.
02:23In the same vein, you had these workers who were under public officers, at some point
02:30in time, I can't give you the specific year, they would have been transferred to a civil
02:40litigation authority under an act, a new act that would have been created.
02:48But in that act, the Public Services Association would have been deemed to be the recognized
02:52majority union.
02:57The management, after all these years, woke up some day and decided that the PSA ought
03:05not to be deemed the recognized majority union.
03:08The PSA further notes that after several years, air traffic controllers received a
03:12salary adjustment last year, but without the involvement of the union.
03:16The government did, because this matter is in court with us, they have unilaterally given
03:25them some kind of adjustment in salary.
03:30So the government simply gives them that.
03:32It's not an agreement between the PSA and the CPO, the PSA and Civil Aviation.
03:39These issues have come to the fore, as air traffic controller associations from around
03:44the region have come to Trinidad for the 40th International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers
03:50Association's Americas Regional Meeting.
03:53Over the course of three days, discussions will be held around protecting and safeguarding
03:58the interests of air traffic controllers and the profession.
04:02Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
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