Madrid Airport Staff Plan Strike Action For Late August
Spain News
Published: 20 August 2014 12:01 CET
Updated: 20 December 2019 13:01 CET
Staff at Madrid's Adolfo Suárez airport who previously cancelled their strike action planned for the 15th and 17th of August have now decided to move it to the period Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August 2014.
The strike action is over a recent government announcement in which they said that they had agreed to sell around 49% of the state-owned airport operator.
The action will affect security staff, police, firefighters, doctors, baggage handlers and other essential airport workers.
The trade union CGT-Aena believe that the privatisation of the airport operator AENA will put the Spanish tourist industry at risk, have a negative impact on airport security and will ultimately lead to job losses. It is thought that those on temporary contracts will be most at risk.
Even though the state would still own 51% of the operator, it is thought that shareholders will be more interested in profit rather than airport security, jobs and the overall economic sustainability of the airport.
Many believe that turning AENA into a state/public owned enterprise is a bad move, especially as the airport and tourist industries are so vital to the Spanish economy.
It is believed that the strike action will take place between 3pm to 8pm on the Friday 29th and from 7am to 10am and then 8pm to 12pm on Sunday 31st.
The times for Saturdays action are still to be confirmed at this time.
If you are planning on travelling to or from Madrid around these dates, you will need to plan in advance and keep up to date with all the latest developments.
Photo Credit: CEDIDA
