Air traffic controllers strike

MONDAY morning saw the first of four planned strikes by Spain’s air traffic controllers take place.
The strikes are scheduled to occur between 10am and 12pm, then again from 6pm until 8pm on June 8, 10, 12 and 14.
While the Spanish Transport Ministry has demanded that a 70 per cent operational level is maintained throughout the strike periods, it estimates that some 5,000 flights could still be affected.
The protests have been organised by USCA, the air traffic controllers union, in retaliation for a decision to punish 61 controllers who took strike action in 2010, which caused the military to be called in to keep Barcelona airport open.