MISERY FOR BRITISH HOLIDAYMAKERS
Misery for British holidaymakers as Spanish air traffic controllers confirm four days of strikes in June . Spanish air traffic controllers have planned four days of strikes in June. The events will take place on June 8, 10, 12 and 14 for two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon across the country
The strikes mirror the 2010 stoppages which left 600,000 tourists stranded
The union is now protesting the penalties given to those controllers
Britons travelling abroad to Spain for a sunny break should prepare for considerable disruption in June as Spanish air traffic controllers have called partial strikes over four days.
The stoppages have been organised by the USCA controllers’ labors union in dispute over fines and suspensions given by airport operator AENA to 61 controllers for a walkout that happened in 2010.
Control workers will strike on June 8, 10, 12 and 14 between 10am and 12pm and 6pm and 8pm across the country, the union worker confirmed.
The action will begin as Spain starts its summer tourism season and threatens to disrupt an industry that accounts for over 10 percent of economic output.
Travel companies and airlines who will be affected by the strikes are hoping there will be as little disruption as possible for travellers during the strikes. A spokesperson for budget airline, easyJet said: ‘easyJet has been advised of planned industrial strike action by Spanish Air Traffic Control services on 8, 10, 12 and 14 June for two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon. ‘It is too early to say whether there will be any impact to our flying programme and we are currently monitoring the situation.
‘We would like to reassure customers that we are doing everything possible to minimise any disruption as a result of the industrial action.’
At the last strike, five years ago, 600,000 travellers were stranded ahead of a national holiday, and the government were forced to call in the army to take over control towers.
For the first time since the country returned to democracy in 1978, Spain was forced to implement a ‘state of alarm.’ The controllers gave no warning before starting their walkout, which was the result of a dispute over pay and conditions with airports authority AENA. The wildcat strike lasted for 24 hours wreaking havoc across Europe. Over 600,000 tourists were affected across Europe as a result of the Spanish controller’s unannounced walkout
People wait for their delayed flight to Las Palmas at the airport in Munich in 2010. Over 600,000 tourists were affected across Europe as a result of the Spanish controller’s unannounced walkout
Following this, 61 air traffic controllers from Barcelona Control Centre were fined one month’s salary, and were given a month’s suspension.
However the suspension of 59 of the 61 staff members has been pushed back to 2016 because of a ‘shortage of staff’ according to The Local.
AENA had no comment on the June 2015 planned strikes.
source: AFP
