SPAIN’S Union of Air Traffic Controllers (USCA) has decided to call off its planned strike that was scheduled to start on August 18 – the height of Spain’s tourist season.
UCSA head of communications, Cesar Cap, issued a statement saying: “The executive committee has decided not to exercise the right to strike during the month of August in order to demonstrate responsibility.”
On August 3 the controllers voted to strike over government changes to their working conditions. Union leaders have been negotiating with state-run airport management authority, AENA, in an effort to reach a compromise but negotiations broke off on Friday amid uncertainty.
It is not yet clear whether the strike has been called off or just postponed.
In a separate statement Iata urged AENA, the Spanish air navigation service provider and the Spanish air traffic controllers to take all measures to avoid a strike.
Giovanni Bisignani, Iata’s director general and ceo urged the controllers to accept AENA’s offer to enter into an arbitration process to resolve their differences.
He said the global financial crisis and Europe’s ongoing debt crisis were challenging governments, employers and employees to change in order to build stronger and more robust economies.
“With 20% unemployment, Spain cannot be a spectator. The economy is weak and it can ill afford the devastating effects of an air traffic control strike on Spanish business, especially tourism,” said Bisignani.
Spanish air traffic controllers call off strike
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