Europe - Portugal ATC Strike - 29 June - 3 July 2012

Portugal ATC Strike - 29 June - 3 July 2012

Details here: http://www.easytravelreport.com/index.html#anchor_1715

and here: http://www.dn.pt/inicio/economia/interior.aspx?content_id=2616512&page=-1

This is the ATC workers third strike since April. This strike is for 5 consecutive days (the previous strikes were for 5 days over 2 weeks) and 10 hours a day (the previous strikes were for 2, and then 6 hours a day), so the potential for massive disruption is much higher this time. It also appears that all airport workers are going on strike on the morning of 2 July.

FYI, this information appears to be preliminary, and could be subject to change.

Hopefully the government will be able to negotiate a solution with the workers, but its doesn't seem like they are in the position to do any favors at the moment...

Edited 27 June 2012: Good News! Looks like the ATC strike is off! Hopefully the TAP strike will be called off as well.

http://sol.sapo.pt/inicio/Economia/Interior.aspx?content_id=53017

Second Edit 27 June 2012: Looks like earlier reports that the strike is off are premature -- strike is still on according to this, although it could still be called off:

http://www.dinheirovivo.pt/Empresas/Artigo/CIECO050790.html

Third Edit 27 June 2012 OK, this time for real -- the ATC strike is off - this announcement is from the ATC's worker's committee:

http://www.pelanav.pt/2012/06/greve-dos-trabalhadores-da-nav-desconvocada/

https://mobile.twitter.com/CTNAV/status/218155696687034368

Portugal ATC Strike - 29 June - 3 July 2012

Details here: http://www.easytravelreport.com/index.html#anchor_1715

and here: http://www.dn.pt/inicio/economia/interior.aspx?content_id=2616512&page=-1

This is the ATC workers third strike since April. This strike is for 5 consecutive days (the previous strikes were for 5 days over 2 weeks) and 10 hours a day (the previous strikes were for 2, and then 6 hours a day), so the potential for massive disruption is much higher this time. It also appears that all airport workers are going on strike on the morning of 2 July.

FYI, this information appears to be preliminary, and could be subject to change.

Hopefully the government will be able to negotiate a solution with the workers, but its doesn't seem like they are in the position to do any favors at the moment...

So I guess flights between Spain and North America will require flight plans that avoid Portuguese airspace. Sometimes they fly over France, sometimes straight over Portugal.

These are pre announcements, so the strikes are not totally confirmed. I'm flying on the 29th, and hoping for the best.

Btw. There was also a pre announcement for TAP pilots strike Jul 5-8 as well as in August.

TAP has posted its first notice of cancellations for Friday 29 June.

http://www.tapportugal.com/mediaRep/editors/Contentimages/INSTITUTIONAL/PDF/INFO/voos_greve_nav_29JUN_3JUL_v2_en.pdf

The government does not appear to be taking a hardline stance in public, so I suppose there's some hope (maybe they call it off after a day or two?).

http://sol.sapo.pt/inicio/Economia/Interior.aspx?content_id=52927