Today is the second day of a planned 4-day series of short strikes by Spain’s air traffic controllers, who are angry over punishments meted out for a strike in 2010.
Monday’s first day of the strike, which was expected to cause issues for up to 5300 flights apparently had less effect than expected, because of a requirement that a strike not reduce minimum staffing and tower service below 70%.
The 70% level is in an agreement between the Spanish government and ENAIRE, the publicly-owned air traffic control company; the controllers don’t like it. In a statement, the Union says “The controllers’ union believes that the minimum services violates their fundamental right to strike, a clearly discriminatory measure when compared to other groups of workers involved in essential public services, and, of course, compared to our counterparts across Europe.”
Although authorities now say they expect minimal effect by the remaining days of the strike, that could change if the controllers strike the 70% rule as well.
For background on the whole dispute, see TravelGumbo’s report HERE
