The threat of strikes disrupting Easter holiday flights to and from Spain appears to be over after airport authority AENA and Spanish unions agreed a preliminary deal.
The airport workers' unions and AENA have agreed to further meeting to thrash out a detailed agreeemtn, but both sides have pledged to talk until they resolve the remaining issues.
AENA has made certain guarantees and promised to meet one of the union demands by making a group of temporary workers permanent. The deal with the UGT, CCOO and USO unions was announced yesterday following 20 hours of talks. Reports yesterday suggested attempts to find a settlement had broken down.
Union officials will hold mass meetings later today to present the agreement to members. The unions had threatened to close airports across Spain by calling out their 12,500 members on 22 days starting from 20 April [although not 22 consecutive days].
The Spanish tourism industry faced a shutdown due to 4 days of strikes over Easter and further action in May, June, July and August.
Taken from Travelweekly 16 March 2011
