Spain's air traffic controllers are going on strike in protest against the Spanish Prime Minister altering their working conditions and reducing the amount of overtime pay they are able to accumulate.
Spain's air traffic controllers earned an average of €350,000 last year, with the biggest earner reaching €900,000. Thirty others earned more than €720,000 and 130 earned above €600,000.
Their contracts stipulate a working year of 1,000 hours, which most of them topped up with a further 600 hours of overtime paid at triple rate. They are now being obliged to work 1,600 hours at a normal wage which still gives them an annual salary of €200,000.
The walkout is expected to begin on Wednesday 18th August or Friday 20th August and will continue for up to three days. A final decision on exactly when the strike will start, and how long it will last for will be taken wen the union meet today.
It will be the first time air traffic controllers in Spain have gone on strike and a three day disruption would affect two million airline passengers during the peak week for tourism in Spain. An estimated 300,000 people flying to or from Britain are at risk of disruption.
The Spanish government is expected to order the air traffic controllers to maintain a "minimum" service which means maintaining between 50% and 75% of traffic.
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