Surprise strike of air controllers could reproduce

Inopined strikes disrupted the French Airlines, even without appeal from unions on Saturday.

by Guy Dutheil

This is a surprise strike by air controllers on Saturday, February 11, which took the airlines shortly like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) and of course the passengers. On the occasion of the day of action against the pension reform, Saturday 11 February, a high proportion of air controllers suddenly decided to strike.

A very strong movement, especially in Orly, which led the DGAC to “shoot down”, that is to say to reduce by 50 % the number of flights from the Airport in the South West Paris. Disturbances were also observed at Toulouse-Blagnac airport which had to close on Saturday evening from 8 p.m.

Unlike other air transport players such as pilots, air hostesses or airline staff, controllers are not subject to the Diard law, which imposes on all employees who contribute directly to the Direction of flights, to declare themselves strikers no later than 48 hours before the start of the movement.

So far, explains to the world the DGAC, during the first three days of action against the pension reform, the unions of air controllers had “relayed” the strike watch in the intersyndicale at the national level. Clearly, they had informed the DGAC that they would strike at the call of their unions. Thus warned, the air transport regulation body had been able to set up a minimum service. A device that requires non -striker controllers to present themselves at their posts. It also allows the DGAC to anticipate a drop in traffic for lack of controllers in sufficient number.

On the occasion of the last day of protest against the pension reform on Tuesday, February 7, the DGAC had announced a reduction in the flights of 20 %. A decision that forces companies to reduce their flight programs. In practice, they preserve “international flights, mainly long-haul, and connections to the French overseas departments and territories”, indicates the DGAC to the detriment of short and medium-haul flights.

the minimum service n ‘ could not be implemented

This Saturday, February 11, underlined the DGAC, the national strike notice for Saturday had not been relayed by the trade union organizations within the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, nor followed by appeal to the strike from organizations representative of air controllers “. By deciding to follow, “by surprise”, the national strike movement, air controllers prevented the implementation of the minimum service put in place during the previous days.

You have 20.82% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.

/Media reports cited above.