Hi Guys, just a quick intro. I'm a BA pilot who commutes from Spain.
It is really disappointing that even The Times seems to have joined the misinformation bandwagon. There was ONE controller who last year earned 900K Euros working extra hours. Every bugger and his dog comes up to me and wants to talk about the same.
It's true that the norm is more like 300K euros a year for what amounts to about 12-14 days a month (sometimes even less) and they are saying that that is 3x what an English controller earns. Well, that's as may be but considering the slide in the pound in the past couple of years it seems a little unfair to say that.
Also, what they really, really don't tell you is that the very government who are trying to bully the ATCO's into submission are really the biggest burden on the Spanish economy which in turn is the biggest burden on the EU. Zapatito (our Mr Bean president) has about 300 advisers - and frankly for the job he does he may as well have none! We also have one of the largest civil services packed full of lazy, good for nothing ignorant people you could possibly imagine.
So, yes they earn a lot of money and (I have to say) not as good as our English controllers but of all the skilled and specialised workers in Spain, they do a very good job which is more than you can say for most of the rest.
This summer there may be some disruption and it will make the rest of Europe's days a little longer; and you will be told all sorts of lies and tales of high earning lazy Spanish ATCO's but just remember what I said.
All, thanks for looking after us up there.