Belgocontrol - strike?

[nitrodave]

Hi guys,

Has anyone heard anything about strike action by ATC in Belgium?


many thanks

nitro

[stranex]

Seems they walked out on a "wildcat" strike about 2100z-0400z...no idea as to the reason

[lilibulle75]

What a bloody mess! I was working when it happened... Without notice, very nice...

We heard they have problems with their staff.

I'm not against strike but in France there is a minimum service, a five-day notice. It's illegal to go on strike like this.

[millerman]

Where did you get the thread title from?
Eurocontrol only controls above FL245 in Belgian airspace and we also have many rules on strike action. We have never been on strike.
I believe you are talking about our colleagues in Belgocontrol who went on strike in the night to cause minimum disruption and still get their point across to management :ooh:
Can you change the thread title please and try to be more accurate in the future.:hmm:

[levelD]

Thread title is misleading.Came a bit as a shock to me this morning.

Change it please , but keep it warm somewhere , you NEVER know , Millerman:E

[BeT]

Its Belgocontrol, not Eurocontrol!

I was wondering if I should be on strike for a moment there!

[ACARS]

I was SLF freight on NCL-BRU flight yesterday evening. At about 10:30pm last night we started to hold just off the Belgium coast. I have flown the same route for 2 years. I knew something was up. I presumed there was a storm or something coming through. Probably 5 or 6 turns in the hold and then diverted to Antwerp. We heard that all other aircraft went to Luxemborg but I don't know how true that is.

Bus provided to get people back to BRU. Most people jumped in a taxi. I think Brussels Airlines handled the situation very well (except the very hard landing at Antwerp :ouch: :D).

[HHI OPS]

There were a few divertions as well to Cologne (about 20)

[Lon More]

Not quite sure who was on strike yesterday. Wa it only EBBR TWR/APP? If the ACC was involved how did the flight get to EBAW where Belgacontrol also supplies TWR/APP ?

[ACARS]

There was a King Air and some Fokker 50's at Antwerp. We were told no other aircraft were allowed to land. I have no idea how 'we' were the only ones to get in there.

The NOTAM detailed the closure, but I didn't make a note. Something to do with TWR/APR and below FL245??

To be honest after we left the hold at the dutch belgium border we did fly below 5000' for a long time. It's possible he went VFR?

[bruman]

One big importent thing.
This action was NOT initiated and supported by BGATC, which is the Belgian guild, and was solely initiated by the socialistic union, which is the smallest union amongst the controllers and not smartest union.
Even the majority of the controllers was not behind the strike but for safety reasons the chief closed the FIR.

[Avman]

ACARS: it´s Belgian coast (not Belgium coast). ;)

Your "hard" landing would be down to ANR´s 4900 feet runway which doesn´t allow for any heroic attempt to grease it on. With runways of that length the objective is to get the aeroplane down pronto. This may result in a firm landing.

[bruman]

The heat has been turned on again at Belgo.
We all received a letter from our CEO about the bad financial situation of the company.
In one paragraph he stated that according to european law it is possible that the belgian goverment can decide that another ANSP can take over the operation above Belgium.
This is a direct attact. The people in the ops-room are really pissed off about this.
Next week there will be a meeting between the staff, unions and the Guild about this.

[bruman]

New strike anoncement has been published by the unions yesterday.
The management has now 15 days to come to an agreement with the unions and the guild, otherwise from 25 of june there can (will?) be a strike.:confused::8

[bruman]

Yes they do above FL245, but projects are being developed to rise the DFL to FL315

[makeapullup]

I wonder if its too late to put in for leave from 25 June?

[millerman]

Bruman,
A study has already been made that shows it would be more economically viable to lower the division level to FL160.
Raising the level is a purely political move and would only cause more disruption and delay !! :ooh:

[Lon More]

It was originally FL195 ovr Beium and Luxembourg; then raised to FL245; consideration was given to giving everything above FL65 to Eurocontrol. Over th Netherlands it was FL300 then lowered to FL245. Over germany it remained at FL245
As Millerman says, a political thing

[elcrusoe]

How are the staffing levels at Belgocontrol? I noticed that they have not hired since last year!!!

[levelD]

Any news on the call for strike at Belgocontrol for the end of June?:rolleyes: