EASTER AIRPORT STRIKES SPAIN
I am afraid that it looks as though there are going to be Easter airport strikes in Spain – which may continue on into the summer. This, of course, is the worst possible news for anyone planning to fly over to Spain during the Easter holidays. Needless to say, it is also very bad news for the Spanish economy, for which tourism is such an essential part.
When will the airport strikes in Spain occur – I can hear you asking?
Well, airport strikes in Spain are planned for 22 days and on the following dates:
April: 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30
May: 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20
June: 13, 23 and 30
July: 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31
August 1, 15 and 31
It hardly needs me to point out that the timings for the airport strikes in Spain are aimed at peak periods to cause the maximum disruption to everyone – including, of course, the Spanish themselves.
The big question is whether the airport strikes in Spain will actually go ahead – or be allowed to go ahead by the Spanish government..
Three months ago, you may recall that there was an air traffic controllers strike in Spain – a wild cat action that caused enormous disruption. However, this was dealt with brutally and decisively by the Spanish government, who called a State of Emergency (the first since Spain became a democracy in 1978). This stopped the air traffic controllers strike in Spain in its tracks.
So, the question is: will the Spanish government be able to stop the Easter airport strikes in Spain and those planned to follow – the same as they did with the air traffic controllers strike in Spain?
Of course, no-one knows, at the moment, what will actually happen.
However, it is one thing for the Spanish government to act strongly against a tiny and massively over-paid (and unpopular) section of the working population such as the air traffic controllers – and quite another to take on the major unions. The latter are firmly involved in this dispute which is all about the intended part privitisation of Spanish airports.
I shall keep you advised as more news develops about the Easter airport strikes in Spain – but beware of making any travel arrangements to Spain, as I fear this situation is nothing if not volatile…
Just when we thought things where going to get better,…!!!
Tossers
Clive, inelegant but probably sums the situation up rather well…
Isn’t it a little ironic that in UK the vast majority of airports (and only restricted from total domination by the monopolies commission) are Spanish owned?
They are a product of market liberalisation and the long term result of a new economic model introduced to free the UK economy from nationalisation and union anchors. Whether you agree with the politics or not; the Thatcher annilalisation of union rule and the decimation of British industry as it was known through privatisation and the brutal use of British police can be traced back to this market liberalistaion.
Here we are 25 years later.
And Spain has seriously bad economic conditions with mass unemployment and huge holes in the economy (as a result weak Government, childish financial strategy and probably an element of corruption and greed).
In Spain, with maybe the only current tangible economic oppurtunity is to revive an ailing TOURIST INDUSTRY the last thing it needs is to be help ransom by Air Traffic Controllers. If the other unions come out in support of these then God help Spain!
Will Zapaero bring the army into full force on a National basis in a war with the unions?
And what will happen if he does? Another Civil War?
The air traffic controllers should have been dealt with years ago and they are the tip of a huge problem in Spain and now there is an intense urgency to sort it out.
I hope the Air Traffic unions will realise the same and yield but, as is often the case in Spain, its a sense of individualistic ‘Screw you, what about me?’that prevails.
Now that is an ironic outome of National Socialism.
Franco is turning in his grave!
That’s Spain… The crisis will never be stopped. Congrats for the webpage, it’s different than the Spanish press