Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/23/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-297729

TITLE=RUSSIA / AIR TRAFFIC (S)

BYLINE=REBECCA SANTANA

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

INTRO: Russian air traffic controllers in many cities are in their second day of a hunger strike as part of their demands for higher pay. V-O-A's Rebecca Santana has more from Moscow.

TEXT: Air traffic controllers in a number of airports around the country are demanding a 30 percent pay raise, demands the government has rejected.

As part of their campaign, air traffic controllers in many cities Sunday went on a hunger strike. Since they are responsible for air safety, by Russian law, they are not allowed to leave their jobs on a traditional strike.

Some of the cities where air traffic controllers are taking part in the hunger strike are the Siberian towns of Omsk and Surgut as well as the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

The air traffic controllers say their salaries never rebounded after the 1998 financial crisis in Russia and they are demanding a pay increase.

Government officials have offered a fifteen percent increase to go into effect this January. But they say they don't have the resources to raise the salaries by thirty percent.

So far, there have been no reports of flights being canceled or delayed due to the hunger strike.

But government officials say if the hunger strike continues and air traffic controllers are not allowed to work because of their health condition, many airports may be closed and flights diverted.

The airports where air traffic controllers are taking part mainly service domestic flights or are responsible for monitoring international flights through Russian air space.

Air traffic controllers in the two largest Russian cities of St. Petersburg and the capital city of Moscow which service most foreign visitors to Russia are not taking part in the strike. (signed)