Search for solution to air controllers' hunger strike continues

The Russian Transport Ministry proposes to work out a compromise agreement with the Federation of Air Controllers' Trade Unions to end the hunger strike staged by air controllers, said Chairman of the Transport Ministry's Department of the State Civil Aviation Service Yury Meleshko.

According to him, a preliminary agreement on holding negotiations between the Russian Transport Ministry and the Federation of Air Controllers' Trade Unions has been reached. The negotiations are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, December 25th.

Meanwhile, according to Chairman of the Federation Sergei Kovalev, on Tuesday air controllers from Chelyabinsk, Ufa and Tyumen have joined the mass protest rally. All in all, air controllers from about 40 cities went on hunger strike.

Air controllers demand a 30% pay rise, meanwhile the Transport Ministry is ready to concede only 15.7% claming that in case of further increase the Ministry will fail to implement measures for maintaining flight safety and do civil aviation planes repairs.