The strike, scheduled to begin at 00:00 on April 17, has been pre-announced by the Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos (USCA) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO). This industrial action aims to protest against the lack of personnel, the worsening of working conditions, and the negative impact this has on operational safety.
The unions argue that the current situation is not due to isolated incidents but rather a structural problem that has developed over years. They point to a continuous reduction in staff without adequate replacement, leading to work overload, improvised organization, and non-compliance with regulations concerning rest periods, work-life balance, and service planning.
Aeronautical safety cannot be sustained by a workforce subjected to fatigue, stress, and permanent uncertainty.
Among the specific reasons for the strike, USCA and CCOO cite the cancellation of already approved holidays, the abusive use of on-call availability, short-notice shift changes, lack of clarity in mandatory rest schedules, and irregular organizational practices in various departments. These measures, according to the unions, have made what should be exceptional a common occurrence.
Before resorting to a strike, the union organizations claim to have attempted dialogue with Saerco. However, scheduled meetings were repeatedly postponed or canceled, leaving key issues unresolved, such as actual staffing levels, coverage for absences, occupational risk prevention, fatigue management, and criteria for creating work schedules.
With this call to action, the unions demand sufficient staffing in all towers, respect for aeronautical rest periods, an end to abusive on-call activations, guaranteed holidays, and working conditions compatible with operational safety and professional dignity. Mandatory mediation has been requested from the Servicio Interconfederal de Mediación y Arbitraje (SIMA) as a preliminary step to the strike.
