Contract talks between Nav Canada, air controllers at impasse Last Updated Fri, 06 Jun 2003 13:42:33 TORONTO - The federal government is trying to get stalled contract negotiations between Nav Canada and its air traffic controllers going again. The company and the unionized workers are to sit down again Friday afternoon with the assistant deputy minister of labour. Talks between Nav Canada and the air controllers broke down around midnight last night, and a deadline of noon Friday for the two sides to reach an agreement is now past. The controllers, who are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers, said they are ready to start job action. "Our members have waited 30 months and their patience has run out," CAW president Buzz Hargrove said. "We're still hopeful the government can persuade NAV Canada to do the right thing," Hargrove said. A Nav Canada spokesperson expressed surprise at the union's decision. "We left the meeting on the understanding talks would continue and we're in the process of preparing for those talks," Nav Canada's John Morris told Canadian Press. While they cannot legally go off the job, the air traffic controllers can stop educating new trainees, a move that could eventually affect flight operations. The 2,300 air traffic controllers have been working without a contract since March 31, 2001. The main issue in the contract talks focuses on wage. A mediator has recommended the controllers get a four-year contract with wage hikes of 2.5 per cent in each of the first two years, and a 2.75 per cent raise in the third year and three per cent in the fourth year. Nav Canada is still weighing the report. The potential labour disruption comes at a time the airline sector can least afford it. The sector has been hit by the fallout from Sept. 11, severe acute respiratory syndrome, the war against Iraq and the weak global economy. In addition, Air Canada, Nav Canada's biggest customer, is currently in court-ordered bankruptcy protection. The airline owes Nav Canada $43 million in fees. Written by CBC News Online staff *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ Site of the Week: http://www.natalielaughlin.com/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************