Air traffic control Strikes France and Barcelona
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Air traffic control Strikes France and Barcelona
Marseille ATC is calling for more strikes this Saturday and Sunday. ATC controllers in Barcelona and Spain are short staffed, working days and will be going on strike.
Personally and behalf of my passengers I am tired of the air traffic controls strikes. Delay slots and cancelled flights, in the end many passengers blame the airlines.
Its time for both parties to resolve their differences and sit down and find a solution, enough already. Have you been affected?
“It’s really a significant issue. We thought it would get better in 2018 but it’s getting worse,” Walsh said. France has been a particular problem area for airlines, where public sector workers have staged a series of protests over the government’s economic reforms. IAG’S airlines, which also include Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, are having to spend more on fuel to travel via alternative routes to bypass French airspace, Walsh said. “We end up paying compensation to customers. It’s completely outside our control,” he added, saying millions of passengers were affected and it cost airlines tens of millions of euros.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKCN1J10TQ.
Personally and behalf of my passengers I am tired of the air traffic controls strikes. Delay slots and cancelled flights, in the end many passengers blame the airlines.
Its time for both parties to resolve their differences and sit down and find a solution, enough already. Have you been affected?
“It’s really a significant issue. We thought it would get better in 2018 but it’s getting worse,” Walsh said. France has been a particular problem area for airlines, where public sector workers have staged a series of protests over the government’s economic reforms. IAG’S airlines, which also include Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, are having to spend more on fuel to travel via alternative routes to bypass French airspace, Walsh said. “We end up paying compensation to customers. It’s completely outside our control,” he added, saying millions of passengers were affected and it cost airlines tens of millions of euros.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKCN1J10TQ.
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Marseilles are possibly striking EVERY weekend for the foreseeable future. This isn't something new and isn't something that is going to be going away, read up on the French changes to working rights & pensions and you can see exactly why this is happening.
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Even though it causes delays and cancelled flights I wholeheartedly support their strike action, as a matter of fact I support every group of workers striking efforts, no matter the inconvenience caused to me.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
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At the risk of sounding like a bit of an old pinko lefty, Walsh is the last person to wheel out on workers' rights.
It may be a short term inconvenience, but industrial action that nobody noticed would be a waste of everyone's afternoon.
It may be a short term inconvenience, but industrial action that nobody noticed would be a waste of everyone's afternoon.
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Even though it causes delays and cancelled flights I wholeheartedly support their strike action, as a matter of fact I support every group of workers striking efforts, no matter the inconvenience caused to me.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
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Even though it causes delays and cancelled flights I wholeheartedly support their strike action, as a matter of fact I support every group of workers striking efforts, no matter the inconvenience caused to me.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
I hope some day not too far away the pilots will grow a backbone and go on strike as well to improve the eroding T&Cs in our industry, especially the bunch at a certain Irish carrier.
By doing that, you actually hit where it hurts, while by striking you hit those who have no relation to the company.
pilots could, as you said, grow a backbone, but realise - it is a free market, and the more of an unpredictable expense you become to the company, the more they will think about removing that random variable from their business equation.
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We are holidaying for just a few days in France and part of our itinerary today was a trip on the Little Yellow Train up into the Pyrenees. That was a no go as the railway workers were on strike. Sitting in a bar and planning or next move, we received a text from a certain Irish airline to say that our return flight from Toulouse is cancelled next Sunday due to the ATC strike! Isn't it strange that I was immediately able to book alternative flights on a choice of two other airlines! My EU261 compensation claim will be with you next week MOL Yes I know EU261 doesn't cover strike action, but the way that I look at it, if others can operate, MOL can only be cancelling to suit his own operations. I stand to be corrected and welcome your comments.
The French workers must be doing untold damage to the country with these
strikes.
The French workers must be doing untold damage to the country with these
strikes.
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The French workers must be doing untold damage to the country with these strikes.
strikes.
Yes, to a degree...how long have you got?
The situation as seen by someone resident in France: Government need to reduce public spending/balance the books, a stated aim (by President Macron) to move French Labour laws and businesses into the 21st century, syndicats (unions) trying to hold the line (I think unless you are very left of centre politically it’s hard to be too sympathetic with some of the rail workers T&Cs, especially those regarding retirement), a system of industrial relations that generally in most industries seems to hinge on confrontation, then negotiation, rather than the other way round., on an emotional level the fact is the 50th anniversary of 1968 has been mentioned....
..That’s very very very much a simplistic précis, so is the one in this link, but it’s a start:
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a8302951.html
TBF if you live there and know the system it is possible to work around the disruption (both train and air) if you have a handle on the dates, but I know it’s harder for visitors. FWIW according to some sources the strikes are losing support and there are certainly claimed to now be more trains running than mentioned in the Independent piece, probably mainly due to the financial impact on those striking. In any event it will probably calm down in a month or less when the holiday season starts.
As for the side issue mentioned by Tigger of a certain airline proactively dropping French flights at the hint of IA whereas others such as Easyjet and BA trying to continue operating......nothing new there.
Last edited by wiggy; 9th Jun 2018 at 01:02.
I was chatting to a French Controller on Monday evening and he said one of the main gripes was the cutting back of maintenance. There used to be 24hr cover, but it is being pared back to a 7am-7pm operation. If something non essential breaks out of hours, they are expected to cope with reduced facilities until the morning.
sitigeltfel... aah yes, that started around eight or nine years ago at our unit. Friday evening, something tech, call maintenance "call back Monday morning" was the reply and there were we working 24 hours a day. That's not support, as was deemed by our so called support staff... 'management'.
Harrumph, happy days but glad I'm retired.
Harrumph, happy days but glad I'm retired.
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wiggy and all, thanks for that! I remember when there was a general strike in Belgium. There were burning cars are on the entrance road to the airport. None could get in or out, participant or not. They sure knew how to get their dissatisfaction across.
Yesterday evening, on the A8 near Aix-en-Provence, the messages on the overhead gantries were urging motorists to car share during the transport strikes. This must be at the behest of the authorities as I can't see the autoroute companies campaigning to reduce the number of vehicles passing through their toll booths! 
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Good for you..As a passenger delayed, sometimes considerably, faffed and messed about. Witnessed first hand Flight and cabin crew tearing their hair out, trying to get their jobs done. I for one are totally peeed orf with their selfish actions. Somebody needs to kick ass which in the case of France, Macron is trying to do. The Republic can no longer afford featherbedding. The others probably just jumping on a bandwagon. You don`t like it?...tough I don`t care..but..many pax like me also have had enough and can vote with their feet. Next year we are going to Spain but putting our money with Brittany Ferries. There`s more to life than being messed about by so called `Aviation Professionals`.....
You'd probably have 8 year olds working downt' mill as long as you can still have your holiday.
