Spanish airport workers threatened Tuesday to call strikes over the next few months, including the Easter holiday weekend, to protest government plans to privatise airport operator AENA.
The first walkouts would take place over five days in April and others on various days over the subsequent three months, said a spokeswoman for the UGT union, which has organised the protests along with two other unions, the CCOO and the USO.
The strikes are in protest at the government's plan announced on December 3 to sell off 49 percent of AENA as part of measures to slash the public deficit.
"We want the transport ministry to become involved and ensure that there will not be any layoffs," the spokeswoman said.
But she added that "the unions are open to negotiation."
Under the plan announced Tuesday, AENA workers would strike on April 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30, on May 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20, on June 13, 23 and 30 and on July 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31.
AENA employs 11,000 workers at 47 Spanish airports,
On December 3, Spanish air traffic controllers staged a wildcat strike over pay and working conditions, disrupting travel for more than 200,000 people on a holiday weekend.
Spain's government forced the controllers to return to work the following day by declaring a state of alert, putting the military in command and threatening jail for those who refused.
The first walkouts would take place over five days in April and others on various days over the subsequent three months, said a spokeswoman for the UGT union, which has organised the protests along with two other unions, the CCOO and the USO.
The strikes are in protest at the government's plan announced on December 3 to sell off 49 percent of AENA as part of measures to slash the public deficit.
"We want the transport ministry to become involved and ensure that there will not be any layoffs," the spokeswoman said.
But she added that "the unions are open to negotiation."
Under the plan announced Tuesday, AENA workers would strike on April 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30, on May 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20, on June 13, 23 and 30 and on July 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31.
AENA employs 11,000 workers at 47 Spanish airports,
On December 3, Spanish air traffic controllers staged a wildcat strike over pay and working conditions, disrupting travel for more than 200,000 people on a holiday weekend.
Spain's government forced the controllers to return to work the following day by declaring a state of alert, putting the military in command and threatening jail for those who refused.
