indefinite air traffic control strike canary islands airports

Indefinite Air Traffic Control Strike Threatens Five Canary Islands Airports

Indefinite Strike Set for Mid-April

The unions USCA (Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) have announced an indefinite strike notice for air traffic control towers managed by the company Saerco. The industrial action is scheduled to begin at 00:00 on 17 April and will affect 14 airports across Spain, including five in the Canary Islands.

Affected Airports Across Spain

Specifically, the company is responsible for air traffic control at the Canary Islands airports of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, El Hierro, and La Gomera. On the Spanish mainland, the strike will affect the airports of Castellón, Burgos, Huesca, Ciudad Real, Vigo, A Coruña, Jerez, Sevilla, and Madrid-Cuatro Vientos.

Unions Cite Critical Safety Concerns

In a statement, USCA stated that the strike aims to “denounce the lack of staff, the deterioration of working conditions and their impact on operational safety.” The unions maintain that the conflict is not due to isolated incidents, but stems from a structural problem resulting from years of staff reductions, excessive workloads, organisational improvisation, and failures to comply with regulations on rest periods, work-life balance, and service planning.

Deteriorating Working Conditions

According to the strike notice registered on 6 April, the company has been reducing staff numbers without adequately replacing those who leave. Among the causes of the strike, USCA and CCOO cite the cancellation of already approved holidays, the abusive use of on-call duties, shift changes communicated at short notice, a lack of clarity in rotas regarding mandatory rest periods, and irregular organisational practices in several control centres.

Impact on Air Safety

The organising unions further warn that “aviation safety cannot be sustained by a workforce subjected to fatigue, stress, and permanent uncertainty.” In their view, the lack of effective rest and the continuous disruption of work organisation compromise the concentration required for an essential service like air traffic control.

Failed Negotiations Lead to Action

USCA and CCOO also state that, prior to calling the strike, they attempted to open negotiations with the company. However, scheduled meetings were repeatedly postponed or cancelled by Saerco, which they say has left key issues unresolved. These include real staffing levels, cover for absences, health and safety at work, fatigue management, and the criteria for creating work schedules.

Core Demands of the Strike

With this action, the unions are demanding sufficient staffing levels at all control towers, respect for aviation rest regulations, and working conditions compatible with operational safety and professional dignity. The strike notice also indicates that, as a preliminary step, mandatory mediation has been requested from the Servicio Interconfederal de Mediación y Arbitraje (SIMA).

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