The Spanish air traffic controllers strike began on December 3, 2010, when the Socialist Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero declared rate 0 forcing a National Air Navigation Lock-Out [1] and portraying air traffic controllers in Spanish airports (and in other units) as if they were walking out in a coordinated wildcat strike. Following that lock-out, the Spanish Government authorised the Spanish military forces to escort air traffic controllers in order to continue operations in a total of eight airports, including the country's two main airports, Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat.[2] On the morning of December 4, the government declared a 'State of Alert', conscripting the controllers back to work supervised by the military forces and under the military law, instead of the civil law.[3]
Control tower in Terminal 4 in the Madrid-Barajas airport
The move by the Spanish Government came after a year of dispute with the air traffic controllers and the Spanish airport authority Aena over working conditions, work schedules and benefits. According to some sources,[4] air traffic controllers could earn up to 350,000 euros per annum, a claim that has been hotly disputed.[5] This meant that the controllers did not receive much sympathy in Spain. On the same day as the lock-out, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved plans to partially privatise Aena.[2]
The use of emergency powers was the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1975 that a state of alert had been called.[4] Under the measure, controllers were escorted by armed guards and faced arrest for the crime of disobedience, stipulated in the Spanish military penal code in case of not showing up at work.[3] Some controllers reported to have been forced to work at gunpoint.[6]
The use of this measure by the Spanish government has been severely criticised by ATCEUC (Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination) through a press release.[7][8] And also by judge Juan Antonio Vázquez Taín:
Aena's unilateral decision to close the airspace in December 2010 is not directly or indirectly attributable to the air traffic controllers who limit themselves to complying with a rule that sets the maximum number of hours they can work
— Juan Antonio Vázquez Taín, Investigating court 2 of Santiago.
^"Court rules total absolution". El confidencial. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
^ ab "Spanish airports reopen after strike causes holiday chaos". guardian.co.uk. December 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
^ ab "Spanish air traffic controllers marched back to work as airports reopen". telegraph.co.uk. December 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
^ ab"Striking Spain air traffic controllers return to work". BBC. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
^"Una nómina de verdad y unos bonitos turnos". Cristina Antón. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
^ "Spain counts the costs of air controller strike". reuters.com. December 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
^"Spain: A Strange Vision of Social Dialogue" (PDF). ATCEUC. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
^"Juez abuselve a los controladores". La Opinion A Coruña. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
December 15, 2023
spanish, traffic, controllers, strike, spanish, traffic, controllers, strike, began, december, 2010, when, socialist, government, josé, luis, rodríguez, zapatero, declared, rate, forcing, national, navigation, lock, portraying, traffic, controllers, spanish, a. The Spanish air traffic controllers strike began on December 3 2010 when the Socialist Government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero declared rate 0 forcing a National Air Navigation Lock Out 1 and portraying air traffic controllers in Spanish airports and in other units as if they were walking out in a coordinated wildcat strike Following that lock out the Spanish Government authorised the Spanish military forces to escort air traffic controllers in order to continue operations in a total of eight airports including the country s two main airports Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat 2 On the morning of December 4 the government declared a State of Alert conscripting the controllers back to work supervised by the military forces and under the military law instead of the civil law 3 Control tower in Terminal 4 in the Madrid Barajas airportThe move by the Spanish Government came after a year of dispute with the air traffic controllers and the Spanish airport authority Aena over working conditions work schedules and benefits According to some sources 4 air traffic controllers could earn up to 350 000 euros per annum a claim that has been hotly disputed 5 This meant that the controllers did not receive much sympathy in Spain On the same day as the lock out the Spanish Council of Ministers approved plans to partially privatise Aena 2 The use of emergency powers was the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1975 that a state of alert had been called 4 Under the measure controllers were escorted by armed guards and faced arrest for the crime of disobedience stipulated in the Spanish military penal code in case of not showing up at work 3 Some controllers reported to have been forced to work at gunpoint 6 The use of this measure by the Spanish government has been severely criticised by ATCEUC Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination through a press release 7 8 And also by judge Juan Antonio Vazquez Tain Aena s unilateral decision to close the airspace in December 2010 is not directly or indirectly attributable to the air traffic controllers who limit themselves to complying with a rule that sets the maximum number of hours they can work Juan Antonio Vazquez Tain Investigating court 2 of Santiago See also editProfessional Air Traffic Controllers Organization 1968 References edit Court rules total absolution El confidencial 30 March 2022 Retrieved 30 March 2022 a b Spanish airports reopen after strike causes holiday chaos guardian co uk December 4 2010 Retrieved 2010 12 05 a b Spanish air traffic controllers marched back to work as airports reopen telegraph co uk December 4 2010 Retrieved 2010 12 05 a b Striking Spain air traffic controllers return to work BBC 4 December 2010 Retrieved 6 December 2010 Una nomina de verdad y unos bonitos turnos Cristina Anton 17 December 2010 Retrieved 5 January 2011 Spain counts the costs of air controller strike reuters com December 4 2010 Retrieved 2010 12 05 Spain A Strange Vision of Social Dialogue PDF ATCEUC 4 December 2010 Retrieved 5 January 2011 Juez abuselve a los controladores La Opinion A Coruna 19 January 2014 Retrieved 30 March 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spanish air traffic controllers 27 strike amp oldid 1178575064, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
