Spanish ATC union announces 2 more strike days

It has been announced that Spanish air traffic controllers will strike on two more days over forthcoming weeks as further protest against sanctions imposed by airport operator Aena on certain members of staff. It is understood that the controllers’ strike will take place between 06:00 CET and 18:00 CET on both September 26th and October 3rd, according to the USCA union, having previously suspended industrial action in August, one of the busiest months for tourist arrivals. The current dispute relates to sanctions placed by Aena (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea) on 61 controllers who went on strike back in 2010.
On 3rd December 2010 air traffic controllers at all major Spanish airports walked out in a wildcat strike after a failed year of negotiations and disputes with the government and Aena over work schedules, benefits and conditions. The move was not met with great sympathy as it was reported at the time that some air traffic controllers could earn up to €350,000 (then US$450,000), even though the figure was hotly disputed.
The Spanish government immediately authorized the military to take command of air traffic control operations at eight airports, including Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat. The next day a ‘state of alert’ was declared and the controllers were ordered back to work. Under the ‘state of alert’ controllers were subsequently escorted to work by armed guards (some claimed they were forced at gunpoint to return to work). As a consequence of their actions the controllers were faced with the prospect of arrest for the crime of disobedience, stipulated in the Spanish military penal code in cases of failing to show up at work.