Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
AFP - 2 hours 26 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
MADRID (AFP) - – Air traffic controllers ended a wildcat strike across Spain on Saturday, reopening airspace to flights after the government declared an unprecedented state of alert and threatened criminal prosecutions.
The strike over working hours hit an estimated 300,000 passengers on a long holiday weekend, prompting the government to put the military in command of the skies and threaten prison for absent controllers.
Of 184 air traffic controllers scheduled to work, "practically the whole shift went to work," said a spokesman for airport operator AENA, allowing flights to recommence.
Within hours take-offs and landings began at Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat and other airports dotted around the country.
"We are going to try to re-establish the network first thing tomorrow," said a spokesman for Spanish flag carrier Iberia, which had cancelled flights until 6:00 am (0500 GMT) Sunday.
Transport Minister Jose Blanco told Spanish media the airspace was completely open but it might take another 24 to 48 hours to recover normality as flights were rescheduled.
The Socialist government had declared the first state of alert since Spain turned into a democracy after the 1975 death of dictator General Francisco Franco.
Ministers at an emergency cabinet meeting agreed the extraordinary measure for 15 days because airports had been paralysed, Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba told reporters.
Air traffic control had been placed under the control of the military by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero the previous evening after controllers called in sick en masse.
Under the state of alert, controllers were under the orders of the military and could be charged for disobeying an order under the military penal code, Rubalcaba said, warning of heavy prison sentences.
Striking air traffic controllers were defending "intolerable privileges" which the government would not accept, said the minister, who is also deputy prime minister.
According to the transport ministry, there are 2,300 air traffic controllers in Spain of whom 135 earn more than 600,000 euros a year and 713 between 360,000 and 540,000 euros a year.
In February the government cut back controllers' overtime to a maximum 80 hours a year, slicing into paypackets that had bulged with overtime pay of two-three times the normal rate of 117 euros an hour.
The strike coincided with a government ruling Friday that the maximum time worked by air traffic controllers is 1,670 hours a year -- 32 hours a week -- but this excludes non-aeronautical work.
A spokesman for the Syndicate Union of Air Controllers said this meant time taken for paternity or sick leave would not count within the maximum working hours.
"We have reached our limit," union spokesman Jorge Ontiveros said.
But they found little sympathy among stranded passengers strewn across the floor in yellow army blankets at Madrid airport.
Next Monday and Wednesday are days off in Spain and many people were also taking Tuesday off so as to have a five-day break.
"It is not right they should be demanding wage increases when there are so many people out of work, they are privileged," said 31-year-old Nouria Sanchez waiting for her flight to Tenerife to be officially cancelled so she could demand a refund.
It was the gravest crisis in Spain's skies since an Icelandic volcano erupted in April, forcing the world's biggest shutdown since World War II with 100,000 flight cancellations in two months.
The strike was also a test for Spain's government, which vowed to cut costs so as to calm fears of a Greek-style debt crisis, including by reforming airport work hours and partly privatising AENA.
As part of a package of measures the government said it would sell up to 49 percent of AENA, raising as much as nine billion euros according to Spanish media. Originally it planned to sell only 30 percent.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
UK-World Summary Reuters - 25 minutes ago
Ivory Coast's Gbagbo sworn in despite world rejection Reuters - 25 minutes ago
Spain reopens airspace after controllers' strike Reuters - 28 minutes ago
World pitches in as Israel wages air battle against inferno AFP - 34 minutes ago
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike AFP - 42 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
Serbs stick with Zimonjic and Troicki for doubles
Gbagbo denounces foreign 'interference' in I.Coast
Climate: Kyoto row rocks UN talks
Obama on surprise Afghanistan visit, says US winning war
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
WikiLeaks arrest looms as site fights to stay online
Obama on surprise Afghanistan visit, says US winning war
Climate: Kyoto row rocks UN talks
Suspect in Hollywood PR shooting commits suicide
More Most Viewed »
NASA finds new form of life... on Earth
Pilgrims stone 'devil' as Muslims celebrate Eid
World leaders scramble for funds to save the tiger
US, S.Korea plan war games after N.Korean attack
Obama gets 12 stitches after 'elbow in the lip'
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 5 December 2010 Iran tells Gulf Arabs it is no threat to region
Madrid forces end to air controllers wildcat strike
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
Serbs stick with Zimonjic and Troicki for doubles
Greek police find suspected guerrilla arms cache
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Gbagbo denounces foreign 'interference' in I.Coast
Iran welcomes talks with world powers
Israel arrests two suspects in deadly fire
Netanyahu and Abbas hold rare phone chat over fires
Kenyan forces kill five Ethiopian rebels
|
Afghan president doubts credibility of US leaked cables
Iran will 'never use' force against Muslim neighbours
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
|
Iran pilgrims among 13 dead in Iraq bombings
Al Qaeda planned to kill Saudis with poisoned gifts
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' top contender at Europe's Oscars
Disney sells Miramax to Qatar-linked group
Google to buy anti-piracy software firm Widevine
|
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
|
Suspected Russian spammer denied bond: report
PayPal suspends WikiLeaks donations account
Russian 'spy' found in British parliament
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
Cold snap, air strike and floods bring chaos to Europe
Spain reopens airspace after controllers' strike
|
WikiLeaks faces donations blow as it fights for survival
Egypt vote leaves near single-party parliament
Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout
CrowdFlower cultivating office-free work styles
China Internet cafe explosion kills 6, injures 37: report
|
Ex-fugitive Nadir threatens to sue British police
Hosni Mubarak party to sail through boycotted Egypt vote
Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid
|
Madrid forces end to air controllers strike
Spain eyes role in Costa Rica-Nicaragua border spat
US-TECH Summary
Afghan minister disputes US diplomatic cable
Polls open in Egyptian run-off parliament vote
|
Two killed as plane makes emergency landing in Russia
Thabo Mbeki to mediate Ivory Coast poll row
|
Sudan's south rejects bid for delay of January 9 vote
Russian airliner makes emergency landing, 2 dead
|
WikiLeaks boost for Singaporeans
South Korea appoints new defence minister
Outpouring of love as Thais celebrate King's 83rd birthday
Cambodian refugee goes home as US Navy commander
The Sultan and I have no qualms: Indonesian President
Responders head to disabled ship in Bering Sea
Nepal's gentle giants do battle on the polo field
Indonesia creates team to study WikiLeaks cables
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea lawmakers call US trade deal 'humiliating'
Aretha Franklin "doing very well" after surgery
Australia Outback could soon get web via TV aerial
Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' steals the show at Europe's Oscars
Pietersen swells England's Ashes lead with double hundred
India's Tata plans hiring spree in Detroit
Luanda's Triennial boosts Angola's nascent art scene
US, key Asian allies to forge strategy on N.Korea
New Mel Gibson movie finally heads to theaters
China's skyscraper boom buoys global industry
Filipino justice head wants to arm lawyers, judges
S.Korea parliament closer to sukuk issues approval
Bangladesh's Grameen Bank denies wrongdoing
Sarkozy pushes defense, nuke cooperation in India
Aretha Franklin doing very well after surgery
|
Human error 'to blame for Russian plane crash'
At least two killed in Afghan suicide blast
Russian spy uncovered in British parliament
|
Hunt for WikiLeaks founder 'politically motivated'
Iran declares nuclear 'self-sufficiency' ahead of talks
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
|
Cancun climate talks enter final stretch
Defiant Iran reports nuclear advance before talks
Mbeki to mediate I.Coast 'two presidents' standoff
Suicide attack kills 4 near NATO base in Afghanistan
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
North Korea says South's drills provocative
|
Iran to process its own raw uranium yellowcake
Hong Kong protesters demand China free Nobel winner Liu
|
Bomb blast hits eastern Afghan army base, kills 2
Saudi nabbed 2,000 at Yemen border per day: cable
|
Egyptians vote in run-off after opposition quits
|
Sarkozy and wife hit tourist trail in India
China Internet cafe blast kills 6 and injures 38
Seven killed in China cybercafe blast
Taiwan warned against jailing ex-leader's wife
Tow vessel reaches struggling ship in Bering Sea
Thai king leaves hospital for 83rd birthday
US Navy commander returns to Cambodian roots
Malaysian police fire tear gas on opposition protest
Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
WRAPUP 2-Obama touts S.Korea trade deal, looks for more
Malaysia PM launches Anwar attack ahead of polls
Suntory to tie up with SKorea's OB: report
Land disputes hit Indian infrastructure schemes
Vietnam's 'tiger' economy limping: investors
South Korean trade minister defends deal with US
Brazil's Vale says HK shares to start trading
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights