Industrial action is going to cause problems for Britons flying to the Balearics and Spain this year. | Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter
Palma01/02/2023 13:10
Every year, French air traffic controllers go on strike which has a massive impact on flights from the UK to the Balearics and across Spain because the vast majority of flights have to go through French air space. What is more, part of French air space is being closed this year for repair work to a number of control towers.
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One obvious difference is that French strikes typically last a few days, cause a bit of disruption, then back to normal. By all credible assessments, the UK's problems are only beginning. Prognosis is for ch
Ulla JacksonAnd May that difference continue Ulla . It’s what makes Europe , a rich tapestry of culture and history If we were all the same it would be like … McDonald’s boring, tasteless and …the same.
Zoltan TeglasWell I watched a debate on Tuesday where the head of the teachers Union did not question that £49k figure when he was challenged about it. So that’s why I quoted that number. Remember some heads and department heads are on £100k plus. Some university chancellors on rock star salaries. Next year newly qualified teachers start at £30k plus the pension contribution of 20%. The terminal net pension alone is worth £6 to10k/yr to the average private sector employee, that they have to find from their salaries before tax and many simply can’t. The average worker 81% of the U.K. workforce who also struggle to pay bills and are highly taxed. All are suffering from inflation pressures ..except the very wealthy. I remember as a young man then newly married family in the late 70s and 80s inflation hitting 25% in the U.K. and interest rates at 16% and the economy suffered a unemployment rate in some areas of over 20%.. whole industry sectors disappeared. No one wants to go through that again.. that’s why wage restraint is needed in the state sector.. to a level that can be afforded.
David HollandThe average teacher's salary in England is between 28k - 38k. So if they are on the lower scale it would explain why there are so many stories of them struggling to pay bills etc. 49k is the maximum salary a teacher can earn in London. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/teacher-training-and-education/how-much-do-teachers-get-paid#qualified-teacher-salary
David HollandI'm sorry Mr Holland but to my knowledge it's not at all the same groups striking "in most of European nations" at all. Do mentioned which specific countries you believe these large groups striking are so well spread as in the UK at the moment? Whatever the motives are it certainly won't help the UK despite its a free country as most other Europeans are. Just like teachers striking when school should open the French ATC team takes the opportunity to make the biggest effect too. As you say even France is a free country. So same same but different.
Ulla JacksonWell the U.K. groups you mention are the same industrial groups striking in most European nations… Many of the state or state aided U.K. workers are well paid by U.K. and similar economy standards. Train drivers ave £66k/yr..teachers ave £49k/yr. … add in up to 20% pension contributions to final salary schemes they do ok. Some consider these actions politically motivated but we are a free country. And these events are infrequent anyway. As for the French strike numbers they have the highest in advanced economies by some way. And the ATC folks strikes you can set your watch by them. By the way O’Leary is Irish.
Why are people in the UK so upset about the French striking? Everyone "under the sun"" in the UK are striking. Nurses, paramedics including ambulance crew, teachers, railway workers, etc etc. but this is the UK. Yes I know French traffic controllers affect a lot of people, in the ideal world noone is striking but we do not Iive in an ideal world
So why should this year be any different. France ATC strikes every year ,, that I can remember. Even the boss of Ryanair criticised this annual event. But it’s France.
Thank you MFB for this Article and it's warning. I will not be flying this year. Will the Airlines warn their customers of these problems? All potential bookings should now carry these warnings. I did wonder.if Flights via Germany then by passing France to the Balearics etc. would mean extra fuel surcharges. But be a major help for those already booked to go on holiday.