Spanish ATC

[transilvana]

Safety and Security have the the same meaning in Spanish: "Seguridad"

My source are actual ATCO´s working at Madrid ACC, Sevilla ACC and Barcelona ACC. I have seen myself the military personnel at Malaga Control tower this morning. Futhermore they can not talk as they are treated now as military personnel so military rules apply.

I have seen one ATCO under a nerve crisis with hands shaking and has been forced to stay on his job.

Air traffic controllers are calling the only independant TV on Spain, Intereconomia, to inform of this situation as no other media source is independent from goverment.

Please be advise, level of safety is under minimums.

[paidworker]

Denti on State bonds you must look to who is backstopping Dexia and KBC but it is not just state bonds it is semi private debt from the Cajas that is the real concern since what crippled Ireland is the state backstopping private banks and taking private debt into state custody. Merkel herself wanted to let the AIB bondholders have it untill somebody quietly pointed out to her that the bondholders were her own banks. Best though not to drift the thread pm me if you wish.

[LH2]

Originally Posted by Lon More

So, what are they actually doing? Their very presence is intimidating.

Kindly read the thread, please. They are assisting in the management of ATC centres, as their employer is now responsible for them.

In ATC most of my career,[....]

Yes I know that, which is why I value your opinion, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered asking. I may have misworded my question. What I wanted to know was the basis for your specific assertion that the military officers (Colonels) deployed in the field were "totally unsuited" for the task they were doing (the precise nature of which was not clear to you, I believe)

Stay out of the airspace.

I can do that, but I'm not sure if others will have such a freedom of choice.

The lack of maturity is shown by the persons who have decided to use a sledge-hammer to crack a nut.

So how would you have proceeded then from:

a) The moment you decide you need to reform the system. Say 2007/8 onwards in Spain.

b) The moment where, after you've made every mistake possible, your controllers fail to show up, unannounced, on the most important holiday this side of Christmas? Assume for the sake of argument you did receive a brain transplant and you are suddenly endowed with common sense, intelligence, and all the other qualities you would not normally associate with politicians.

Again read my profile. I worked in a multi-national environment, plenty of Spanish to talk to, also French, German, Dutch, Belgian, Greeks, even a couple of Brits so plenty of interaction there. Worked with Spanish Controllers on projects at Bretigny

Ok, so you worked with a number of Spanish controllers abroad (some of them AENA, some of them Eurocontrol, etc., I imagine?). May I suggest that those controllers who took those assignments were the minority who are actually capable and interested? Note that I am always careful to qualify when I make assertions about the majority of Spanish controllers. I do recognise there are some amongst the lot who are capable and passionate about the job they do (rather than just the money), and I have every sympathy for them on account of the frustrating environment they have to put up with.

So would it be fair to assume that those controllers you've met abroad were likely to come from this group?

and visited a number of Centres when on Fam. Flights. I was appalled at the working conditions, equipment and salaries back in the 1970s and slowly saw them improve.

You were appalled at their working conditions and salaries, and slowly saw them improve? Yes, I believe they had managed to make quite a bit of progress on those

And how about their training, competence, and general demeanour? Did you find that comparable to elsewhere in Europe? Would you say those controllers you met at the towers were of the same caliber as those Spanish controllers you worked with elsewhere? I realise you may have met the former for a few hours at most, but nevertheless.

His Dudeness wrote another helpful comment.
The answer being to provide a training ground for somebody's Condor Legions perhaps?

Please allow me to suggest that that comment is out of place, Lon. It does not help your reputation falling for somebody else's cheap provocative incitement--why not let others take the bait.

[Old_Fokker]

transilvana:

"Air traffic controllers are calling the only independant TV on Spain, Intereconomia, to inform of this situation as no other media source is independent from goverment."

You must be joking! Or making stuff up.

There are more independent TV stations in Spain yet they too lay the blame entirely with the ATCO's.

As for Intereconomia, it is a 'catholic conservative' network which openly defends the former dictatorial regime of Francisco Franco, aligns itself with ultra-rightwing groups and parties and is openly against homosexuality (up to the point that they received a € 100,000 fine for openly discriminating against homosexuals during a broadcast earlier this year).

Intereconomia resorts to 'creative editing' of video footage to make others look bad and has been exposed doing so.

Despite Intereconomia's claims to be against corruption, they defend a PP politician accused of corruption (and against who several investigations are still under way) who defends having accumulated loads of money in recent years by claiming that he 'won the Spanish Lottery 4 times in 5 years'.

Spanish ATCO's are really grasping at straws if they believe that ONLY Intereconomia is telling the truth about their situation.

[LH2]

Transil,

If I may, I would like to point out that your information is largely incorrect.

Originally Posted by transilvana

Spain Air traffic controller are working on ACC, APP and tower with a phisically gun aiming at their heads

This, Sir, is a blatant, tendentious lie. I have challenged a Spanish news source to verify the truth of such an assertion--it has since been retracted.

More importantly, it is also deeply disrespectful of the individuals who work for the security forces. While on ideological grounds I may be on opposite poles from the Spanish security institutions, I acknowledge the professionality of their members (in particular the Guardia Civil) and respect them as a result of it, even while engaged in conflict with them. Drawing a weapon and pointing it at an unarmed civilian is, as I hope you can imagine, a major offence punishable by jail, termination of employment, barring from public service, and other severe penalties (not to mention civil action leading to compensation, etc.)

they have been forced to sign a document where they are forced to be militarizied

At least partially true, but I do not have enough information at this point on the exact nature of their engagement.

or face jail immediately, be judged under military rules for sedition

You ATCO friend may be surprised to know that sedition is, in fact, a civilian crime (under Title 544, Spanish penal code) and anybody can be charged with it, regardless of military status. This is judged by civilian courts unless you were in the armed forces at the time the crime has been commited--since the events over which they may in fact be accused of sedition occurred while having civilian status they would be judged by civilian courts. Were they to rebel at this time, yes, I believe then it falls under military jurisdiction (again depending on the nature of their engagement), which is largely similar to civilian courts in its functioning. The crime itself however, is not military in nature.

They are in deep scheisse already anyway, from a legal point of view, with both ex officio and privately initiated court actions from many different angles already in place. I am amazed at the number of laws they appear to have broken, judging from the accusations Fortunately for them the Spanish judicial system is probably the most lenient I have seen, so I expect most of them will be let off relatively lightly.

They are working under high stress and security is not guarantee.

I can imagine they would be under stress. You may wish to ask your friend just what did they think would happen? That would certainly be enlightening.

On my company we have decided not to overfly Spain ATC.

That's perhaps a prudent decision to make, but I hope it was not made on the weight of your friend's lies and misapprehensions.

Thank you for sharing nevertheless.

[McNulty]

Well, after just concluding a four sector day out of Barajas which included an internal Spanish flight - I can only say what i witnessed today is a huge improvement on the general day to day muck the controllers there serve up. We were given requested flightlevels, shortcuts, no unnecessary holdings and no non sensical slow speeds. The controllers were polite and it looks like someone has finally taken control of them and put manners on them - long may it continue.

After playing around with Spanish air space like it was a big game to them for the past 18 months, they finally went too far this time and with privatisation on the horizon, this is the beginning of the end of this shambolic group of professionals control over such an important economic resource for the country.

Or at least i hope so.

[LH2]

Originally Posted by Old_Fokker

Spanish ATCO's are really grasping at straws if they believe that ONLY Intereconomia is telling the truth about their situation.

"Grasping at straws"? I believe the expression you're looking for is "dellusional".

What you have said about Intereconomía is correct.

[LH2]

Originally Posted by ATC Watcher

Can you tell us what your source is and in which facilities this occurred ?

One such statement was made to the press last night by one Javier Zanón, a union leader in the Balearic islands (forgive me, I don't have details as to his exact place of work but I'm sure you can get hold of him through the controllers union). I have questioned this with an independent news outlet, who were unable to corroborate and retracted the assertion.

I hope this helps.

[transilvana]

LH2, let me tell you that no ATCO left his work station at any time as Goverment wants us to beleive. Also military courted martial is completely different from civilian, having been military I know how it works.

This is a democratic country, this is not Venezuela, Iran....If I´m aimed by a military I will also respond with guns, this is no joke.

[Daermon ATC]

Several posts in this thread contain correct and precise information, some just complete rubbish and some of them either insulting o intentionally misleading.

An internet forum at its best, then

I would just like to add a few facts. I am my own source since I have experienced this directly. I will clearly state so when this is not the case.

- On my workplace there was at least one controller to ensure minimum staffing in case of emergencies, medical flights and such. I have heard from other Atcos that minimum staffing was also maintained at their places.

- I can not guarantee for the percentage of atcos leaving thier posts for medical reasons (let's call it strike for short but I do not concede that point yet) but 90% is clearly propaganda. This is supported by the fact that Aena is opening investigation against less than 500 controllers (about a fifth of the total staff).

- Technically spanish atco's do have a right to strike but in reality that is not true. Last general strike in september the minimum services imposed were over 100%.

This will need some explanation: assuming your unit has a workforce of 10 atcos and 3 of them are usually needed for daily operation; then on a specific day you order 4 atcos to be there. According to Aena this is minimum services of 40%, in my book that's 133%
In any case now that we are military personell I doubt we have the right to go on strike... early Christmas for MOL?

- No military personell has pointed any weapon to any member of my unit in my presence. They do carry them as part of their uniform. They have been professional and absolutely correct in their proceedings. I have not heard otherwise from any other atco I know personally.

[LH2]

Originally Posted by transilvana

LH2, let me tell you that no ATCO left his work station at any time

??? I wonder how that relates to any of my posts.

This is a democratic country, this is not Venezuela, Iran....

I suggest you might be rather out of your depth there. I certainly won't start debating in this forum the merits or lack thereof of liberal democracy theory or its interpretations or application.

If I´m aimed by a military I will also respond with guns, this is no joke.

Ok, thank you for sharing with us. Is your company also aware of this?

Now you will excuse me if I make use of the board's Ignore facility but I believe you might have already said anything useful you had to say. And then some.

[LH2]

Originally Posted by Daermon ATC

Several posts in this thread contain correct and precise information, some just complete rubbish and some of them either insulting o intentionally misleading.

An internet forum at its best, then

Indeed

Just wanted to say thank you for the balanced, factual contribution of your first-hand experience.

[GhostofCain]

Originally Posted by transilvania

Air traffic controllers are calling the only independant TV on Spain, Intereconomia, to inform of this situation as no other media source is independent from goverment.

Are you referring to the same ultra right wing Intereconomia that was broadcasting when I left Spain (for good) 3 months ago?

[Old_Fokker]

Insider's View

Found an interesting article from Francisco Capella, Spanish controller (at least at time of publication of article) who does not agree with the majority of his colleagues.

First some details.

Article published on August 3, 2010 on Libertaddigital.com, a media site for which he regularly writes. Link at end of post.

Francisco Capella, Spanish ATC, has a degree as a physicist in Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Engineering, and as an economist. Has been an Air Traffic Controller for AENA for the past 11 years. Has worked at Tenerife Sur and Madrid Barajas (where has was an instructor and supervisor). Currently is in the process of instruction in the Route Control Center of Madrid Torrejón.

Note there might be some translation related language issues in text, I've done my best with the help of Google translate.

Excerpts:

"My salaries over the past few years have been slightly above the average that Minister Blanco has spoken about (some € 330,000 per year gross). And my salary was relatively low compared to that of others at Madrid Barajas."

"These high salaries have been achieved by raising the demand for ATCO's and restricting their supply, phenomena not completely outside the scope of the union's pressure nor its ability to do harm by failing to provide an essential service with limited substitutability (unity is strength, especially in a public monopoly like this)."

"The ATCO's themselves almost unilaterally decided how many were needed during each shift in each unit (the reference configurations, with numbers in my opinion inflated and exaggerated because almost always there were too many staff, often sectors were opened which were not strictly necessary and actual hours worked were far from the regulatory limit).Given the limitation of working hours by agreement (1,200 annually) large amounts of overtime were programmed."

"Some Spanish controllers paint a picture of themselves to the public as responsible workers who sacrificed their free time, their family and their health (the famous alleged stress at work) to save overtime and air navigation, tourism and the country: the truth is that they took every opportunity to generate these additional hours and lined up to make them and get paid for them very well. Simultaneously, the union claimed with great cynicism in the public eye for ATCO's, just the opposite of what it really wanted (any economist can explain how the unions are interested in restricting competition to raise their incomes and improve their conditions.)"

"Perhaps because of the economic prosperity, or basically because of threats to stop doing those inflated overtime hours and maybe also to paralyse the formation processes by withdrawing their instructors or to avoid political problems, did ministers and previous management of Aena yield to union pressure. Other measures which were and still are typical of "Go-Slow" strikes during which the rules and procedures (the latter again determined and applied at the discretion of the controllers themselves) as an excuse to slow traffic (air traffic controllers always put a strong emphasis on security , which is constantly invoked and a chance to scare the people, but they can not pressume to be efficient in general). "

"For a long time I warned my colleagues that they were going too far and were creating an unsustainable system, but obviously they took no notice and continued with the excesses and abuses. Then came the economic crisis, reduced air traffic and the change of minister of 'Fomento' and management team in Aena. And more recently the new laws on the provision of air navigation services. Far from practicing a healthy self-criticism, the new management team USCA (Union of Air Traffic Controllers Association) has decided to run forward, proclaimed themselves as enslaved victims and promote the call for a strike. I strongly disagree, and I also am deeply ashamed and outraged by what I saw and heard in recent months in the tower and control room. I have therefore left the USCA union and am considering my future career."

Source

[LH2]

Originally Posted by Old_Fokker

Found an interesting article from Francisco Capella, Spanish controller (at least at time of publication of article) who does not agree with the majority of his colleagues.

Still is (a controller) and still doesn't agree with (the majority?) of his colleagues. At least judging from his most recent commentary (in Spanish, sorry).

[flameproof]

A few observations and comments

I have been following the whole situation closely, and monitoring ATC frequencies since Friday afternoon, so I have some observations, and some theories. First, the observations:

1. ATC has been completely arrogant during the whole issue - they simply referred pilots who asked what was going on to a NOTAM. If a pilot complained too much, the controller said he would file a report.

2. For some reason (controllers say it was to maintain safety, I have another theory) one or two controllers stayed in place, either FIR and TWR or TWR alone, with ALL frequencies bandboxed to the single controller.

3. As the FIR controller had to keep at least one sector open to justify his presence, some dispatchers were able to guess an outbound route that could be accepted. The clearance controller... well, THE controller would cancel and reject all flight plans, until a German Wings flight managed to find out that plans going out via OKABI were being accepted. Three flights (two German Wings) managed to get out of Barcelona, until someone told the controller to stop accepting plans even those filed via OKABI.

4. There were two NOTAMS released on the issue, the last one closing the three FIRs due to "lack of ATC", no further info given, out early in the morning, and had an EST up to 12:00h. Eurocontrol was at the same time pushing out AIMs stating FIRs closed until 18:00. There was no other NOTAM out of LEAN during the whole day, only the ones in effect were cancelled when the controllers went back to work, forced by them being placed under military orders.

5. When they went back to work, TMA controllers would deny ALL requests for direct routes or shortcuts, the standard answer to pilots was "There is a procedure, and I cannot deviate from it". With few aircraft around, there was no reason for not allowing things to move along quicker, considering the circumstances.

Now the theories & opinions:

1. Few controllers remained in place not out of safety, but so that the government couldn't claim they acted unsafely and completely abandoned their duties.

2. The controllers were actively disturbing operations, as instead of simply saying: "If you want to get out via France, file via OKABI", they just denied plans and kept operations guessing.

3. When operations resumed, you could feel tension in the voices of the controllers, but not to the point of a female controller that went on TV crying saying that she was the one in best shape inside the center, and that they were working at gunpoint. The military & police simply told the controllers to get back to work or face disciplinary action under military law, which is basically an arrest, and could end up with up to eight years in prison. No guns were drawn whatsoever, the controllers simply chickened out when faced with prison time.

4. The controllers could have done the same after the long weekend holiday (Saturday to Wednesday inclusive), and they would have saved face in front of the public eg. "we held out for the people". Instead, they have turned the public almost 100% against them.

5. There has been close to zero hiring in the ATC sector in Spain for the last few years, some say it is due to pressures from controllers wanting to keep earning huge sums in overtime, and others that the government doesn't want more controllers. The maximum salary of a UK ATCO is some 110k€, whereas the average in Spain is 330k€. With the amount paid in overtime, the government could pay tons of extra controllers, so applying Occam's Razor, it would seem logical to assume the controllers don't want to lose their huge salaries.

It has all been very sad, from both sides acting like children in a playground, I just hope it is all resolved quickly and as painlessly as possible.

[Conspiracy Theories]

hey flame proof.....not wanting to go of the spanish air traffic topic just want to let you know that the point you made at the end of your post isn't entirely accurate.
UK controllers do not earn that much money (110k€). The highest they can earn as controllers is just over 100k€ and not including any supervisory position.
I think on average, in the UK, the average controller is earning a lot less because it takes between 10-14 years to get to the top and this can only be reached by controllers at 2 specific locations only around the UK, the other controllers will not be earning this amount.

i think i have got this right......maybe someone can help me with this?

[flameproof]

You're right - I wrote 'maximum' as regarding UK ATCOs, but 'average' regarding Spanish ones - I have edited and marked 'maximum' in bold, thanks!

[AngeleToR]

Some first hand information from Spain

Dear fellow pilots and ATCO colleagues,

I'm a spanish ATCO and wanted to shed some light over the last days' chaos.

As we have been telling from february the 5th, the constitutional degradation we are suffering with 3 royal decrees and a law, tailor-suited only for a group of workers and intended to steal the constitutionally required negotiation between a company and his worker's union, the last friday caused what you all have been watching on TV or suffering yourselves.

I'm talking only in my own name, I'm not spokesman for my union nor collective. That said, this friday they 'gifted' us with a royal decree in which we are forced to work up to 1670 'aeronautical' hours per year, that is working or training with live traffic, with no limit about 'non aeronautical' hours. Translated into plain english, it means that the time I spend in my company receiving COMPULSORY formation, is not aeronautical. Neither are the time required for medical examinations, stand-by services not activated, days off because of illness, surgery or attending a parent's funeral, among others.

This year, MANY of us will work over 2000 hours at frequency, with bizarre non-ciclic shifts like afternoon (A from now on), morning and night in the same day (Z from now), AZAZFF (F is for Free), so a couple of shifts could easily be:
AZAZAZFFAZAZAZFF... Sometimes you have a third free day in your roster, but not likely due to heavy understaffing.
OK, so this gives you an idea about ATCOs being tired, you are forced to make this crazy shifts or you get filed (not fired, they can't, the company will 'only' fine you!!!). Procedures changes with no simulation nor training for us, no refresh formation when the winter begins about LVPs or snow procedures in TWRs, p.e., because it is physically impossible to fit it in. We have ORDERS not to give directs, shortcuts or FL other than those in the FPL (would you dare to disobey in this environment??)

Another interesting right we have been stolen is the right to get sick, or to reduce your shifts (and salary accordingly) to take care of your sons, or an unpaired family member depending from you. You can take the days off, for sure, as the law establishes, but you have to return those days off to the company when they tell you!!!! Close your mouths, I couldn't believe it either but it's there written, in the BOE (Official State Bulletin) this friday the 3th.

There are more things I don't want to bore you with, I think that the above is more than enough for anyone to lose its head, even if you're cold like ice, after ten months of continuous harassment from your company and your country's government.

And the funny thing is that the government knew that throwing in our face a new royal decree like that, when our union was 'supposedly' negotiating that very same thing among others with the company, would be like trying to extinguish a fire with gasoline... And they chose the friday, the december's MOST busy day in spanish airports due to a long five day holiday period, to approve it and smash our faces with it... We couldn't take ANY more and just went mad. As you read it, we ATCOs couldn't stand it, started to leave our work and just leaved the TWRs and ACCs...

You have read that all of us went 'mysteriously' sick at the same time, that's true up to certain extent. We ATCOs, as the pilots, have the responsibility to work ONLY if we are in perfect shape, physically and mentally, and we weren't, I'm ashamed to recognize. The strongest of us volunteered to remain in their screens ONLY to give service to emergency, ambulance and state flights, so the airspace has NEVER been completely unattended. Our union representatives (I've been told, this is not first hand info as I haven't talked with them, yet) were taken and ILLEGALLY retained for 'supposed' negotiations, taken apart each other and threatened with prison, impound (or seizing, I don't know the exact translation) of their belongings and even the lose of child custody for those single parents that will get jailed, in favor of state institutions. As I tell, this is what I've been told but I DO trust it, and if it's real, I expect someone very high in our government will have to answer for it.

Right now, we are militarized civilians, working under military orders, in a country under an alarm status, something reserved for cataclysms, wars but NEVER to be used to solve a labour conflict. We only wanted to negotiate, but our government has some hidden agenda and we are theirs useful tool to entertain the masses and distract attention (remember Roma's circus???). Right now I can't even resign from my job.

So please, VERY please, bear with us as we are facing thousands € fines, the possibility to get fired (our smallest concern, right now) and even jail penalties, so our brains are not in their best shape.

Europe ATCOs, please support us spreading the word, look for the truth (outside spanish official press, under government control), talk with people you trust and make your own ideas. Worldwide pilots traveling to/from spain, please don't complain if we request you to hold where you have never had to before, with an apparently low traffic load, we MUST provide safety above all, we're not your enemies, and we're not angry at you, even it may sound so in the frequency. We're under an unbelievable stress and must adhere to the procedures strictly, up to a paranoic point.

If you have read down here, THANK YOU very much for the interest and have a good flight.

[Old_Fokker]

AngeleTor:

tailor-suited only for a group of workers

But weren't your 1999 working conditions not equally tailor-suited, you know, the one which AENA tried time and time again to re-negotiate with your union?

That said, this friday they 'gifted' us with a royal decree in which we are forced to work up to 1670 'aeronautical' hours per year, that is working or training with live traffic, with no limit about 'non aeronautical' hours.

That is not entirely true. The decree establishing those 1,670 hours was already approved in February of this year. What really happened is that Spanish ATCO's interpreted some aspects of it differently, particularly regarding how to calculate total worked hours and overtime. As a result of that, UCSA union announced on November 26 that Galicia airspace had to be closed because workers had ran out of hours and that such situations would spread to the rest of Spain in December.

That is why on December the 3rd the government issued another decree clarifying the working time and overtime issues. You can therefore not somehow claim that it all caught you by surprise.

Another interesting right we have been stolen is the right to get sick

Bull****! Plain and simple.

The only difference is that now you have to get a medical examination by AENA when you report sick or want to leave your job feeling sick. The reason is that many of you, before the massive walkout of a few days back, had on many occasions already used the medical condition excuse and no one longer buys it.

There are more things I don't want to bore you with, I think that the above is more than enough for anyone to lose its head, even if you're cold like ice, after ten months of continuous harassment from your company and your country's government.

Given the fact that the former working conditions agreement dates from 1999 and that on multiple occasions since then government/AENA has tried to re-negotiate it, I don't understand how you can say that just the past 10 months have been bad. So what were you doing prior to those 10 months then? Did you guys never go on a real strike before those 10 months? I think you did, always around the time when AENA tried to re-negotiate with you. Imagine how 'harassed' passengers felt every single time you guys had a strike or threatened to go on strike. Get real!

And the funny thing is that the government knew that throwing in our face a new royal decree like that, when our union was 'supposedly' negotiating that very same thing among others with the company, would be like trying to extinguish a fire with gasoline.

Sure, but you guys thought you had them 'by their balls' because your silly actions continued while UCSA was re-negotiating with AENA. And for some reasons your strikes were always around either festivities or summer holidays. What a coincidence!

And they chose the friday, the december's MOST busy day in spanish airports due to a long five day holiday period, to approve it and smash our faces with it

You're an ATCO, you're supposed to be able to think ahead. Honestly, if you were totally unable to foresee that the government would issue another decree to clarify the overtime hour issue, of which your union days earlier had said it would affect airspace over the whole of Spain in the month of December, just because you all interpreted the February decree differently then the government, then you must be extremely naive.

We couldn't take ANY more and just went mad. As you read it, we ATCOs couldn't stand it, started to leave our work and just leaved the TWRs and ACCs..

So your decision to leave was not directly neither workload- nor safety related but exclusively a matter of an issue with your management then? I dunno but wouldn't it have been better to finish your shift first and not get distracted by other issues? Very unprofessional, if you ask me.

You have read that all of us went 'mysteriously' sick at the same time, that's true up to certain extent. We ATCOs, as the pilots, have the responsibility to work ONLY if we are in perfect shape, physically and mentally, and we weren't, I'm ashamed to recognize.

You bloody well should be!

Our union representatives (I've been told, this is not first hand info as I haven't talked with them, yet) were taken and ILLEGALLY retained for 'supposed' negotiations, taken apart each other and threatened with prison, impound (or seizing, I don't know the exact translation) of their belongings and even the lose of child custody for those single parents that will get jailed, in favor of state institutions.

Utter nonsense.

What happened is that your union leaders were meeting in a hotel near Barajas Airport, in a conference room since 1300 hours, waiting for the government decree to be approved. When that eventually happened, they very likely informed the ATCO's still on their shifts which then did the walkout. Several hours later, a journalist reported he had seen about a 100 ATCO's at that hotel. At that time, there were still thousands of stranded passengers and the news of your union's cozy meeting spread rapidly. Eventually, the police was ordered to identify all those present at that meeting (ie, those that had called in sick). While the police were there, they also protected many of the ATCO's from being lynched by stranded passengers who had gone from the terminal to the hotel.

Face it, for many years you guys have been in a monopoly position and a very well paid one. Not only were you able to set the rules, you also managed the shifts and you handsomely collected very generous overtime pay, which included all the extras usually left out of it. Every single time government/AENA tried to negotiate with you, you'd start with threads of strikes, usually around June/July.

And then came the economic crisis which hit all in this country very hard! But you all acted as if the crisis had somehow nothing to do with you. The government needed to take drastic measures. The writing was on the wall. But you were apparently too busy watching your screens doing overtime that you failed to see it. You thought you could keep bullying AENA and passengers during 2010 with your strike threads and sudden leaves for medical reasons which surprise, surprise, always happened when AENA had started a new round of talks with your union. 'No, the crisis is for normal people, not for us' you must have thought.

You lot committed collective suicide last Friday and now you come here asking for pity. Perhaps you should have visited these boards much earlier and see what other professionals actually thought of you and the quality of your work. It could perhaps have saved you a lot of embarrassment.

The above notwithstanding, I do wish you good luck and, above all, wisdom.