DOMINICAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS HOPE FOR EARLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 004666

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, DRL/L, EB/TRA
DEPT PASS DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION AND FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB EAIR DR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS HOPE FOR EARLY
RAISES FROM FERNANDEZ ADMINISTRATION

REF: SANTO DOMINGO 2026


1. Summary. The salary dispute between the Association of
Air Traffic Controllers (ACTA) and the Dominican Civil
Aviation Authority (DGAC) that resulted in a three-day
lockout in late March remains unresolved. Although the union
and the government do not have good relations now, there is
hope that when the new administration takes power on August
16 the two sides can reinitiate constructive discussions.
End Summary.


2. The Dominican Association of Air Traffic Controllers
(ACTA) represents the approximately 200 civilian air traffic
controllers in the Dominican Republic. Many of the
controllers work in private airports, but all are paid by the
government. In late March 2004 ACTA asked for a 100 percent
pay increase for all air traffic controllers and suggested
the possibility of a "go-slow" action (reftel). The
government locked out the controllers and turned to the
approximately 50 Dominican military controllers. The
military controllers managed the system, although with
delays, until ACTA was allowed back to work a few days later.
The government also brought in an unknown number of foreign
air traffic controllers (including Mexicans and some AmCits),
under contract through the May 16 election, to stand by in
case of further labor problems.

Government View


3. On August 3, Director of Aviation Regulations for the
Dominican Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) Gender Castro, an
air traffic controller himself, reiterated to Emboffs the
Mejia administration's position that the there is no money
available to the controllers because the government budget is
not healthy enough to provide raises for all of the public
sector. Castro cited President Mejia's rebuttal that "this
country is not for one, but for all." Castro said that DGAC
and ACTA do not disagree that controllers deserve a salary
increase, but disagree that the government should provide
such an increase only to them.


4. According to Castro, ACTA rejected a suggestion from the
private sector for a combination of raises and increased
benefits. DGAC thinks that ACTA has become politicized and
would reject any proposal short of the 100 percent pay raise.
Castro complained that it was impossible to deal with ACTA
because of the union's hostility toward the current
government.


5. When asked about the performance of the military
controllers during the lockout, Castro said that although
they are capable of performing the job of the civilian
controllers in an emergency, the military does not have
enough controllers to handle the traffic for more than a few
days. The government would need help from outside
controllers in the event of a lengthy strike or lockout.

Union View


6. On August 10, ACTA President Bolivar De Leon told Emboffs
that since the last salary increase for controllers in 1997,
due to the devaluation of the Dominican peso the controllers
now make less than half in dollars of what they used to earn.
(News reports indicate that controllers received a 100
percent salary adjustment in pesos at the end of 2002,
although even with the raise the average controller still
made only about USD 1000 per month.) De Leon said that the
controllers want salaries commensurate with those of air
traffic controllers in the United States because the
technical skills and stress are the same. DGAC disagrees,
contending that Dominican controllers handle fewer flights
and do not possess the same level of technical English as
their counterparts.


7. De Leon indicated that although relations are not good
with DGAC, ACTA hopes for improvements with the incoming
Fernandez administration, which takes office on August 16.
De Leon appeared confident that an agreement on salaries
could be reached quickly with the new administration.

Comment

8. The negotiating position of ACTA is relatively weak
because Mejia showed that the air traffic controllers could
be replaced. However, ACTA will probably move immediately to
restart salary negotiations with Fernandez even though
Fernandez has said publicly that he is going to concentrate
on improving the overall health of the economy before raising
public sector salaries. When poloff asked De Leon what ACTA
would do if Fernandez did not agree to raise salaries
straight away, the union chief declined to respond.
Fernandez will have a brief honeymoon when he takes office,
but many groups, including the controllers, are expecting
little short of a miracle. Labor conflict in the Dominican
Republic could increase dramatically by the end of the year.
KUBISKE