May 7: Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), the targets of public ire after their flash strike last month crippled all movement over the Indian air space for 30 hours, now have a powerful supporter - the civil aviation minister, C M Ibrahim. His announcement on Sunday night that the government will agree to the ATCs' demands has predictably evoked contradictory responses from the Air Traffic Controllers Guild (ATCG) and their employers, the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

``The minister's statement is a morale-booster for our representatives who are negotiating with the government,'' said an office-bearer of the guild. The guild's negotiators are presently in New Delhi talking to government officials and the Zulka Committee appointed to look into their grievances. The negotiations between the government and the guild commenced in early April when the ATCs threatened to opt out of the service of the AAI. The government subsequently moved the courts to prevent this move, which could have crippled air services across the land.

On the other hand, senior AAI officials say the minister's announcement will only lead to tough talking by the guild across the negotiating table. ``It will certainly make our work more difficult,'' a well-placed AAI official pointed out.

The ATCs' demands include 24-hour long weekly offs, shorter working hours, changes in transfer policies and training schedules and the induction of more officers in their cadre.

Ibrahim's acceptance of these demands amounts to a reversal of the government's earlier stand, under which the ATCs were not to be given any special status.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.