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Airservices is looking to incentivise air traffic controllers to work more over the school holidays with a temporary boost to overtime payments.
As reported in The Australian, an “enhanced school holiday overtime incentive” will pay ATCs 300 per cent overtime, instead of 190 per cent, for working extra shifts during the September/October break, so long as they also work all of their rostered hours.
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This means overtime shifts could pay between $200 per hour for a level 1 controller (up from $127) to $400 per hour for a level 10 controller (up from $247).
“Airservices Australia is trialling a temporary financial incentive during the September/October school holiday period to support operational resilience and coverage during a period of increased travel demand,” an Airservices spokesperson said.
“Eligible air traffic control employees who work their rostered hours and then undertake approved additional shifts will receive an enhanced overtime rate. The initiative is voluntary and does not change existing leave arrangements, fatigue management or safety requirements.
“Pending an assessment of the outcome of the trial and feedback from staff and stakeholders, we will consider further use of incentive measures as required.”
The news has been welcomed by ATC union Civil Air, with president Scott Nugent saying the union is “still working through the initiative and talking with members about both positive and negative aspects of it”, and will review the trial after its completion.
“Civil Air has repeatedly suggested it is better to reward staff for helping out rather than simply pressuring them to work harder,” he said.
“Air traffic controllers have families too, and this scheme does recognise the value of giving up a day with them during the school holidays to help overcome short staffing.
“We are watching the initiative very closely to ensure that there are no new fatigue or safety concerns. Civil Air is in constant dialogue with Airservices over operational issues and we will raise any fatigue issues immediately.
“Our members are working very hard to keep airspace open, and any initiative that helps reduce the pressure on them in the busy holiday period is welcomed.”
The news comes as Sydney Airport has suffered highly publicised delays and disruptions, with Airservices figures showing ground delay minutes were almost 40 per cent higher than average at Kingsford Smith last month.
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