400 Spanish Air Traffic Controllers apply for redundancy

400 Spanish Air Traffic Controllers apply for redundancy
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By h.b. - Sep 3, 2010 - 7:03 PM
The group is using a clause in their previous working conditions which allow them to do so if those conditions change

José Blanco greeting the controllers' representatives today - Photo EFE

At a meeting with the Minister for Development today, 400 Spanish air traffic controllers, from the total in the country of more than 1,900, have used a clause in their working conditions, Article 152, to apply for redundancy because those working conditions have changed. What’s more it grants them 45 days redundancy pay for each year worked with a maximum payout of 42 months.

César Cabo, the spokesman for the controllers, described the redundancy amount demanded as ‘substantial’, but AENA sources said the number of resigning controllers was only 180 and said that they would only get 20 days compensation per year worked.

Cabo said that the controllers had taken the matter to trial, and reminded the press that they had been complaining about their newly imposed working conditions for the past six months. Under the new minimal deal, AENA has agreed to pay a basic wage of 200,000 € for 1,670 hours annual work to the controllers until 2013, but in some cases this represents a 40% cut in take home pay from previous levels.

Of the 400 who want to go, Spanish press sources say that only 200 are operative, while the rest, aged over 55, are on reserve cover with a basic AENA wage, and called in only when their services are needed.

AENA is reportedly denying the redundancy requests although in fact it will be the employment courts who finally decide. Cabo admitted that he was concerned that the clause concerned would be nullified by the judge.

Meanwhile the Minister for Development, José Blanco, has described today’s meeting as ‘positive’ and a ‘point of inflection’.

The meeting on Friday came after a so-called ‘minimal agreement’ reached between the Spanish Airports Authority, AENA, and the controllers in August.

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