The Balearic High Court has ruled that the 82 air-traffic controllers considered to have been responsible for causing flight chaos in December 2010 do not have to advance a combined liability bond of three million euros.
The court has decided that as they are high earners it is assumed that they will have sufficient means to meet the payment of fines and costs. In the event of conviction, the court argues, there is no risk of payment not being made. The demand for the bond, it believes, only complicates the judicial process.
The three million euros bond was a measure determined by the judge heading the investigation into the actions by air-traffic controllers who staged a coordinated stoppage, claiming sickness. This stoppage has been described by the prosecution service as a "pantomime".
It still isn't entirely clear which route the judicial process will take. Fines are one thing, but there is the issue of potential prison sentences. These could be as long as eight years for acts of sedition, as provided for in laws governing air navigation. The more likely route is the charge of disobedience. This would bring with it a two-year disqualification of the air-traffic controllers.
The prosecution service is claiming compensation for 300 passengers. The highest individual amount is 60,000 euros for a man who was unable to get to his mother's funeral.
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Whilst these ATC staff continue to hold their countries to ransom, WITHOUT ANY PUNISHMENT !!!.They ,like the " Frogs" will continue to ruin travelers lives. PLEASE IMPRISON THE MAIN LEADERS, EVERY TIME THEY STRIKE, until they stop striking.
A lot of conflicting information here. If they are 'high' wage earners but suspended for two years or even sentenced to prison does that not make them 'No' wage earners? This whole case is important, not just here but around the world to show employees who work in 'essential' services that they are not God. We need to accept that our actions bring consequences. The consequence of their actions caused unmeasured chaos in the lives of those people who were flying that day, now it is time for 'militant' air traffic controllers to accept the harvest that they sowed. It's always interesting to see how people who appear as brave as bulls end up cowering like meek lambs.