More than 30 of the controllers who are employed at the Grantley Adams International Airport had staged a sick-out over the weekend, but returned to work late Sunday.

General secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Dennis Clarke, said yesterday the workers resumed their positions so the union could properly deal with their grievances, some dating as far back as 2000.

Seven-hour meeting

After a near seven-hour meeting yesterday with the NUPW, air traffic management and officials of the Ministry of the Civil Service, a comprehensive list of areas of discontent was drawn up and discussed.

Another meeting will be held today at that ministry.

"The situation is one where after yesterday's [Sunday's] meeting we are meeting with the Ministry of Civil Service again tomorrow to continue the negotiations," Clarke told the DAILY NATION.

He said those areas where the Permanent Secretary could have decided for the ministry, he did. But there were other areas where the Ministry of Civil Service will have to meet to deal with the terms and conditions of service since the ministry had set those terms and conditions.

The ministry is fully responsible for the air traffic controllers, while management of the Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. (GAIA), is responsible for the equipment and its maintenance.

A source at GAIA said yesterday that while the controllers had complained about "bad or out of date" equipment, new equipment had already been ordered and was due by the end of June.

The controllers also complained about a shortage of staff.

The source assured that there were 15 people now being trained to be air traffic controllers. (BA)