Air traffic control and the lessons of history

by Bob Briton

Big business circles and their fans among the economic rationalists are in 
a state of high arousal. Would-be union buster Chris Corrigan (of Patrick 
Stevedores fame) has joined an alliance with no frills employer Virgin Blue 
and together have promised to treble the airline's business. The entry one 
of the heroes of the establishment's anti-worker offensive into the airline 
industry has apparently emboldened a number of like-thinking public figures 
to speak their mind about airline industry "reform". The presence of 
thousands upon thousands of highly skilled former Ansett employees standing 
in dole queues seems to have added to the heady mix.

The recent dispute between Airservices Australia and five of the unions 
covering their employees is the latest pretext for union bashing 
heavyweights to say their piece.

Federal Transport Minister John Anderson weighed in last week with a 
contribution directed specifically at the air traffic controllers 
represented by the Civil Air Operations Officers Association. "They are 
well paid and should be thankful just to have a job", he said in a message 
you can be sure he'd like to give all Australian workers.

Mr Anderson saw fit to make the comment even though the air traffic 
controllers had just announced a two-week moratorium on their industrial 
action that would see travellers over the busy Easter period.

Dick Smith has renewed his attacks on pay and conditions in the airlines 
and associated services, thereby adding Workers Online's "Tool of the Week" 
to his other awards. Among these is the well-deserved "Mr Affordable 
Safety" title he got during his stint at the Civil Aviation Safety 
Authority.

Also in the last issue of Workers Online was a timely reminder of the 
potential consequences of this misguided anti-worker campaign. Art Shostack 
contributed a piece to mark the passing of the 20th anniversary of then US 
President Reagan's move to smash the air traffic controller's union.

The air traffic controllers had chosen to strike after years of 
bureaucratic indifference to the developing crisis threatening the safety 
of the travelling public.

Leading up to the August 1981 strike, the young and energetic PATCO union 
complained of antiquated radar equipment, shifts and other problems that 
added to the already high stress levels involved in the job, and other 
contract issues that threatened the stability of their industry. It all 
sounds very familiar.

Reagan responded to the strike by deregistering PATCO and, for good 
measure, fining it US$34 million. The 12,500 workers out of an eligible 
14,000 that went on strike were black listed from the industry for the next 
12 years. President Clinton finally lifted the ban in 1993.

PATCO workers could draw some (very costly) satisfaction from the knowledge 
that in the meantime conditions in the de-unionised industry had thrown up 
another active union called NATCA.

Another bitter-sweet fact is that many of their claims from 20 years ago 
had, out of necessity, been incorporated into current day practice.

However, in spite of the lessons of history, there still appears to be 
enthusiasm in high places for Reagan-style industrial relations when it 
comes to air traffic control. Rather than listen to the concerns of the 
highly trained professionals on the job, they choose to publicly denigrate 
them in a manner very reminiscent of their 1980's pin-up boy.

Perhaps they should reflect on reports that during recent industrial action 
— when air traffic controllers went on strike for five hours at Brisbane, 
Sydney and Coolangatta airports — there were five "mid air incidents".

These followed Airservices Australia's decision to allow planes to be flown 
without air traffic controllers on hand.

By the year 2010, over one billion travellers are expected to take to the 
skies annually. In spite of this upward trend, in Australia we have 
witnessed Airservices Australia reduce its workforce from 7,500 in 1991 to 
just 3,000 today.

In July, the authority is planning to restructure in what is widely seen as 
a prelude to eventual privatisation — with all the negative consequences 
that would entail. This would explain some of its reluctance to give any 
undertakings to its staff beyond that date.

It is to be hoped that people in high places, who also happen to be heavy 
users of air transport, suffer the same nerves that the rest of us do at 
the prospect of a new "Wild West" in the skies.