Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos (USCA) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) have issued a notice for an indefinite strike by air traffic controllers at Saerco-managed towers, starting at 00:00 on April 17. The action targets 14 airports in Spain, including Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Castellón, Burgos, Huesca, Ciudad Real, Vigo, A Coruña, Jerez, and Sevilla.
The unions cite chronic understaffing, deteriorating working conditions, and risks to operational safety as the core issues. They describe the conflict as structural, stemming from years of staff reductions without adequate replacements, excessive workloads, organizational improvisation, and violations of rest, work-life balance, and service planning rules. Specific grievances include canceled approved vacations, abusive use of on-call duties, last-minute shift changes, unclear rosters on mandatory breaks, and irregular practices across multiple sites.
USCA and CCOO warn that constant fatigue, stress, and uncertainty among controllers threaten aviation safety, as effective rest and stable scheduling are essential for maintaining required concentration in air traffic control. Prior attempts at negotiation failed, with Saerco repeatedly postponing or canceling meetings on key topics like staffing levels, absence coverage, fatigue management, and roster criteria.
The strike demands sufficient staffing in all towers, adherence to aeronautical rest regulations, an end to excessive on-call activations, guaranteed vacations, and working conditions that ensure operational safety and professional dignity. The notice, filed on April 6, also requests mandatory mediation through the Servicio Interconfederal de Mediación y Arbitraje (SIMA).