Air Traffic Safety association calls off strike

Accra, June 10, GNA - The Ghana Air Traffic Safety and Electronics Association, on Wednesday called off an intended industrial action following the intervention of Mrs Dzifa Attivor, Deputy Minister of Transport.

The intended action was to push demands by the association for improved salaries. Mrs Attivor, who intervened on behalf of Mr Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport, has since ordered that investigations be carried out into the case.

Briefing journalists at the Kotoka International Airport, Mrs Attivor, said she had successfully talked members of the association out of their intended action.

She said a call from Mr Simon Allotey, Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, to the Ministry that there was a system failure and due to grievances over salaries, the particular section which was to correct the situation had refused to work. Mr Allotey said on Tuesday some of the radios used in air traffic control failed, making it difficult to control air traffic, adding "We all got involved and got all systems operational once again". The Acting Director-General said air traffic control was, however, not affected in spite of the situation.

"We have met with the Electronics Association and we have agreed to resolve their grievances over salaries. We will hold a series of meetings with them next week," he said.

Mr Kofi Tefutor, President of the Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association, said the association had called off The intended protest and accepted the intervention of the Ministry. He, however, cautioned: "We expect our grievances to be addressed appropriately."

Members of the association have since been going about their normal duties and taken off red bands which indicated their displeasure. 10 June 09