Chaos may not be over at Barcelona airport

Security workers call new strikes and unions say they will take to court the Spanish government’s forced arbitration

Passengers crossing security control at Barcelona airport (by ACN)
Passengers crossing security control at Barcelona airport (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

August 30, 2017 08:59 PM

The 3-hour-waits to cross security controls at Barcelona airport have been gone for two weeks. Yet, the chaos may be back sooner than expected.

The compulsory arbitration forced by the Spanish government is set to end on Thursday at noon with the final decision by a forced mediator appointed to find common ground between security workers and Eulen, the private company appointed by state operator Aena to deal with security in the airport.

Spanish minister for infrastructure, Íñigo de la Serna, said on Wednesday that the compulsory arbitration will end the conflict once and for all.

Yet, workers have already called new strikes and trade unions say they will bring the Spanish government’s forced arbitration to court.

“We are evaluating the legality of the government’s decision because it may infringe fundamental rights, such as the right to strike and collective bargaining,” said Javier Pacheco, secretary general of Spain’s largest trade union CCOO. In an interview with ACN, Pacheco said his organization is “considering taking the [Spanish government’s] decision to court.”