Good news for air travellers – for now at least. A planned strike later this week of French air traffic controllers has been postponed.
The industrial action planned for 18 September has been suspended until next month. Meanwhile, disruptions are expected at airports in Southern France as well as at the bi-national airport of Basel-Mulhouse. The information was given by Philippe Tabarot, resigning Minister of Transport.
The SNCTA union (Syndicat National des Contrôleurs Aériens/National Union of Air Traffic Controllers) suspended strike action to give a new government more time to review its demands.
The union has penciled in 7 October – 10 October for new strikes if no progress is made.
SNCTA represents more than two-thirds of all air traffic controllers.
It said this week’s strike deadline is ‘no longer compatible with the possibility of achieving demands due to a lack of interlocutors. ‘
The current resigning French minister of transport is handling current affairs without decision-making power.
The union said, “For several years now, air traffic control governance has been characterized by mistrust, punitive practices and degrading management methods.”
“It is clear that this fruitless dialogue is now blocking any prospect of progress and reform.”
There could still be some travel disruption across France as rail and many public transport companies confirmed to strike on September 18. National rail company SNCF confirmed that most regional trains will not circulate.
SNCTA is calling for a pay increase and management reforms.
