06-03-2011 Spain (SB/European Commission) - After months of relative labor calm, Several Spanish labor unions, including Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO) and Union Sindical Obrero (USO), on Saturday announced their intention to call a strike at Spain's airports over the Easter holiday period in the last week of April. The latest dispute comes after a breakdown in talks concerning the government's plans to privatize Spain's civil aviation authority—Aeropeurtos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (AENA).
The unions represent some 12,000 AENA airport workers and a widespread strike could cripple air travel in Spain. If a strike is called, it may take place April 21-25.
In December 2010, the Spanish government used emergency powers to halt an air traffic control strike by placing control towers under military control and threatening jail time for striking workers.
