The Labour Court has backed the Irish Aviation Authority in a ruling on the air traffic controllers' new technology dispute, which paralysed Irish airports last week.
Around 20,000 air passengers had their travel plans disrupted after the IAA suspended 14 controllers for failing to cooperate with four new technology projects, triggering a half day strike.
IMPACT had claimed that the work constituted new and additional duties, involving extra responsibility for which they should be rewarded.
However, their employer - the Irish Aviation Authority - argued that the work was normal, ongoing change and that the staff should have cooperated with it.
In his recommendation, Labour Court Chairman Kevin Duffy rules that the disputed new technology projects were normal, ongoing change, as the IAA had claimed.
He said it was self evident that air traffic control services were delivered through advanced and sophisticated technologies.
Mr Duffy said the Irish Aviation Authority must be in a position to avail of new systems as they become available so as to keep abreast of developments internationally.
He said it was also clear that none of the changes proposed would impact detrimentally on the terms and conditions of employment of the staff affected.
Mr Duffy also pointed out that there was no evidence that the changes would lead to either cost savings to the authority or increases in its revenue.
A spokesperson for the air traffic controllers' union IMPACT said they had always believed that the Labour Court was the appropriate place to decide the status of the technology work.
He said the air traffic controllers would be adhering to the terms of the Labour Court recommendation.
A separate Labour Court recommendation on a second dispute involving pay and pensions at the Irish Aviation Authority is due in the coming days.
