Air traffic controllers appeal to the Russian Constitutional Court against changes in air law preventing strikes

Published: 8/2/1999

The recent news from the Russian Government that they were to legally prevent air controllers from striking has led to an application from the Russian air controllers to the Constitutional Court preventing the changes in the Air Code of the Russian Federation being made law. The amendment to Chapter 52 of the Air Code banning air controller's strikes was passed in the form of a federal law and signed by President Yeltsin in early July. The President of the air controllers' Trade Unions Federation of Russia (FPAD) Valery Yezhov insists that the work conditions of the employees engaged in the air traffic control, and particularly the level of salaries, are open to criticism. In the present situation, the cancellation of planned strikes will only lead to further decline in the morale of those involved. Air Traffic Control in Russia is an issue, particularly as the challenge of Y2K moves closer. The basic conditions of controllers are poor and getting worse. Concise has recently reported about a group of controllers in Kalingrad who went on hunger strike in an effort to get paid back wages and to demand a reasonable wage. In the new Russia the idea that you can legislate to avoid labour unrest suggests that the authorities are not observing what is happening in Russian society

Article ID: 725