Industrial action was staged in a range of countries around Europe on 19 June 2002 by employees working in air traffic control. The workers were protesting against plans drawn up by the European Commission to create a 'European single sky [1]'– a single European airspace, replacing the current system under which each EU Member State has its own national airspace.[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/themes/air/english/single_eur_sky_en.html
Air traffic controllers held a day of industrial action around Europe on 19 June 2002, in protest against the European Commission's plans to create a single European airspace.
Industrial action was staged in a range of countries around Europe on 19 June 2002 by employees working in air traffic control. The workers were protesting against plans drawn up by the European Commission to create a 'European single sky'– a single European airspace, replacing the current system under which each EU Member State has its own national airspace.
The action was most concentrated in France, where air traffic was brought to a virtual standstill. Airports both in the Paris region and around the rest of the country hardly operated, with air carriers estimating that only around 300 of the normal 2,000 domestic and international flights ran on that day. The action was also widespread in Italy, where flights were severely disrupted.
Employees belonging to trade unions grouped in the Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination (ATCEUC), which represents many unions organising European air traffic control workers, also staged actions and work-to-rules in countries such as Greece and Portugal. The actions were timed to coincide with an EU Transport Council on 17-18 June 2002 and the Seville European Council on 21-22 June 2002.
Air traffic controllers are concerned that the European Commission's European single sky proposals will undermine the their status as public sector workers, endanger safety and, in the longer term, lead to privatisation and job cuts. Joel Cariou, the general secretary of ATCEUC, stressed that the action was taken to draw attention to these concerns, which was far preferable to letting an accident highlight the situation. He also confirmed that air traffic controllers would take further action in the future if the European Commission does not take their concerns on board.
However, a European Commission spokesperson maintained that privatisation was not a Commission objective. Further, it was stressed that the proposals will not lead to job cuts – in contrast, the Commission estimates that an additional 10% to 15% more air traffic controllers will be needed in the short term to cover shortages in some centres.
The Commission hopes that its proposal will gain the approval of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament in time for it to be put into place by 2004.
Eurofound doporučuje citovat tuto publikaci následujícím způsobem.
Eurofound (2002), Air traffic controllers stage international action, article.
