Spain to declare State of Alert over air traffic control strikes

[Eddie Clamp]

Spain is due to declare a State of Alert at an emergency cabinet meeting called for 9am Saturday in the wake of a lightening walkout by Spanish air traffic controllers at 5pm on Friday which has since paralysed Spanish air space.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8180759/Spain-to-declare-State-of-Alert-over-air-traffic-control-strikes.html

[Eddie Clamp]

Mr Zapatero described the wildcat strike by 2,400 air traffic controllers as "intolerable" and that the government could not accept "the blackmail of the public."

He said the elite controllers were using their position as "a work monopoly" to create "an unsustainable situation."

Spain has declared a State of Alert in the wake of the walkout, which has paralysed Spanish air space and all airports, with no solution in sight.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8181059/Spanish-strike-Zapatero-says-walkout-intolerable.html

[Eddie Clamp]

MADRID (AFP) – Air traffic controllers ended a wildcat strike across Spain on Saturday, reopening airspace to flights after the government declared an unprecedented state of alert and threatened criminal prosecutions.

The strike over working hours hit an estimated 300,000 passengers on a long holiday weekend, prompting the government to put the military in command of the skies and threaten prison for absent controllers.

Of 184 air traffic controllers scheduled to work, "practically the whole shift went to work," said a spokesman for airport operator AENA, allowing flights to recommence.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101204/bs_afp/spainaviationstrike

[SUNDODGER]

They weren't on strike. They just all phoned in sick simultaneously!

Worst thing is, due to historic pay agreements, some of the gillipollos are on 250K, yes that's right, 250K. :confused:

The Guardia Civil also had a similar event recently when their biros (yes, the ball pen type!) all failed to write - seriously!! Now they are on a profit sharing scheme with all fines raised, so if you are driving to Spain over Christmas - take care!!