Military to cover airport sickies - 23.07.2010

THE Spanish military may replace Barcelona’s air traffic controllers on sick leave to curb flight delays and undermine a probable undercover strike.

Staff taking “sickies” at Barcelona’s control centre fell slightly to 32% last Tuesday from 36% the previous day.

 

 

Transport Minister Jose Blanco said: “In exceptional situations, we will employ aerial military controllers to guarantee aviation traffic in our country. We are obliged to take alternative measures.”

 

 

The minister also said there would be an investigation into the sick-leave taken in the past few days by almost half the Barcelona staff at the control centre.

 

 

Blanco suggested the possibility of an undercover strike, saying he suspected the absences followed “a strategy” and could be “an infringement of law”.

 

 

But on Tuesday morning, Spain’s airport and air traffic authority Aena, said: “There are no more absent controllers than usual ‒ it is a normal day.”

 

 

The number of “sickies” taken by staff through illness, union-related activities and for unjustified reasons, have tripled in the past few months, according to Aena.

 

 

The Air Traffic Controllers’ Union said in a statement that it was not behind the high rate of absences.

 

 

“It does not make sense to resort to pressure tactics, even less in a secretive way,” said Camilo Cesa, head of the union.

 

 

In February, the Spanish government put an end to what it described as the “incomprehensible privileges” of air traffic controllers, including their high rates of pay and benefits.

 

 

At the beginning of this month, the air traffic controllers union and Aena resumed negotiations over a collective agreement.

 

 

The staff shortages have affected the airports in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands which include tourist hot-spots Majorca and Ibiza, and the Valencia region.