A threatened strike of Spain’s air traffic controllers’ will not take place before August 16th, trade unions said today.
Union leaders whose members have voted for the action said they hoped negotiations with the government would allow them to call off the action. The work stoppage would continue for three days.
Daniel Zamit of the controllers' union USCA said that no date had been set yet but if a strike is held it will be after August 16th.
The dispute centres on a recent government order that increases the hours controllers work and shortens their rest breaks during shifts.
The changes are the latest chapter of a row that began in February when the government slashed overtime hours cutting controllers' pay that was as high as €290,000 a year — four times what the prime minister earns.
The government aviation authority AENA was meeting the union today.
Mr Zamit said Spain's 2,000 air traffic controllers are overworked and understaffed.
He has demanded a meeting with Development Minister Jose Blanco, whom he accused of imposing the changes in a heavy-handed fashion.
PA