Threat to bring airports to a standstill in January

PALMA
THE CCOO trade union is threatening to bring airports to a standstill, in the Balearics and the whole of the country, in January “if the airports are privatised or the government do anything to cause the dismantling of the public organisation AENA which administers all Spanish airports.” Although the union has not finalised the exact dates when they will take action they have announced that “in all probability” they will have the support of the UGT and USO unions within AENA, who are also against the privatisation of Spanish airports.

The national head of the CCOO said that “the current political debate about the changes to the organisation of the existing management model of the 48 airports has led CCOO to reject any change, except the participation of the regional governments and local councils in the management of Spanish airports.

AENA has 10'000 workers throughout Spain, according to the CCOO, of which 1'200 work at the airports on the islands. The number of companies which work for the Balearic airports is 492 who employ 15'376 people.

The Balearic Government is lobbying for public control of the airports, managed by the local government, the island councils and the councils.
They also want the participation of the Chambers of Commerce and other business organisation.
At the moment the Balearic Government are discounting the participation of private companies in the management model.
The Spanish government is facing industrial unrest across the aviation world in Spain. Unions representating thousands of workers at Iberia are concerned that the airport is to be sold off. l Unions fear that airports are set to be privatised by the government.