UPDATE: THE
PROPOSED STRIKE WAS CALLED OFF ON MARCH 24 WHEN SPANISH AIRPORT
WORKERS VOTED AGAINST THE 22 DAYS OF STRIKE ACTION, WITH 70% REPORTEDLY
VOTING AGAINST THE PROPOSED STOPPAGE.
Unless planned talks between union chiefs and Spain’s development
minister Jose Blanco are successful, travel chaos is set to strike over
Easter, when airport ground staff are planning two 48-hour walkouts.
The planned stoppages are apparently being held to protest against
the government's plans to sell off parts of Aena, the state-owned firm
that runs Spain's key airports. The issue is so sensitive that three
trade unions have announced a total of 22 strike days between April 20
and August 31.
Airport fire brigades, baggage handlers and runway staff are all
involved in the strikes, which will also embrace Spanish bank holidays
and the start and finish of the peak holiday season.
My friend Arno Otto of Murcia-based Seguro Parking tells me the travel dates to avoid are April 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30; May 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20; June 13, 23, 30, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31 and August 1, 15 and 31.
If you’ve already booked, then it’s cross-your-fingers-and-hope time.
Will the Spanish union of misery makers settle their differences before we all start tearing our hair out? ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, are certainly
hopeful the chaos will be avoided. A spokesman pointed out that the
Spanish industrial action was "only a proposed strike", adding: "Chances
are it won't go ahead."
As for me, chances are I won't be leaving Spain until September at the earliest!
