Air Traffic Controller Strike

The fallout from the air traffic controller strike dominated the news last week in Spain.

Tough and decisive action was taken by the Spanish government in the air traffic controller strike. The Prime Minister's decision to force them back to work under military authority was last experienced under Francisco Franco’s regime in the 70's.

There is little public sympathy with the controllers - hardly surprising considering that Spain's air traffic controllers earned an average of €350,000 last year, with the biggest earner receiving €900,000. Thirty others earned more than €720,000, and 130 more earned above €600,000.

Their contracts previously stipulated a working year of 1,000 hours, which most of them topped up with a further 600 hours of overtime - paid at triple rate.

They are now being obliged to work 1,600 hours at a normal wage - which still gives them an annual salary of €200,000. With the current high unemployment rate, such high earners holding the country to ransom hasn’t gone down well.

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