Flights will be disrupted. Despite the lifting of a strike notice on Wednesday, April 24, by the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA), the majority organization among French air traffic controllers, 75% of flights should be canceled on Thursday at the airport. Orly, and 55% at Roissy – Charles-de-Gaulle, according to a notification to airlines consulted by Agence France-Presse. These reductions, requested by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), will reach 65% in Marseille-Provence and 45% in other airports in mainland France.
These rates are, depending on the airports, identical to or slightly lower than the figures communicated Tuesday evening. However, after having planned a massive strike action on Thursday, the SNCTA finally announced, on Wednesday, the lifting of its strike notice. “An agreement has been reached”explained the union in a short message on its site, following a conciliation of ” last minute “ which was held “from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.” with the DGAC.
The SNCTA, which gathered 60% of the votes of air traffic controllers in the last professional elections, protested against the accompanying measures, particularly salary, for an overhaul of French air traffic control.
Security and limitation of delays
The Minister Delegate for Transport, Patrice Vergriete, welcomed an agreement “win-win” on the social support of this reform, “which aims to make more productive, more efficient in [matière] safety and limitation of delays, air traffic control in France ».
“The user will find more security, fewer delays”added Mr. Vergriete to AFP, without being immediately able to give details on the concessions obtained by the controllers, while the SNCTA notably requested a 25% increase in remuneration spread over five years. “There were statutory measures that were given, but not all of what the unions wanted”let the minister know, noting that it would be a sham operation for the taxpayer.
In addition to the SNCTA, air traffic controllers include two other representative unions, the UNSA-ICNA and the USAC-CGT, which had also called for a strike. “We are starting discussions with the other unions”but “we are very optimistic about being able to close the agreement” with them, assured Mr. Vergriete.