Security suspended at Palma airport

Passenger security controls at Palma airport were temporarily suspended yesterday because of protests by private security company Trablisa employees on the first day of their new contract at the airport. The Guardia Civil who up until yesterday, used to man the x-ray machines and metal detectors, had to be called in to man the security checks. Spanish Airport and Air Traffic control authority AENA contracted the private security firm to take over the manning of the security points from November 1, but staff mounted a protest yesterday complaining that they had not received any information about the prevention of accidents at work. Security guards were also demanding that they be paid “danger money”, an extra 27'000 Pesetas each per month. Tablisa were due to have taken over yesterday, but both staff on the first shift which starts at 6am and members of the second shift which should have taken over at 2pm., refused to work and the Guardia Civil had to man the security checks. The private security company was far from happy about yesterday's events and a spokesperson for Trablisa said that all of the protesting employees will be sanctioned, withdrawn from duty and have their airport security passes taken away. But is appears that with the company's work force united, bosses had to climb down last night, suspend its airport services and withdraw all of the charges against its employees. Union sources said that AENA is studying legal action against the company and called on Trablisa to listen to the staff's concerns, take their worries into account and negotiate with the unions.