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HUNDREDS OF FLIGHTS were cancelled and delays reported at airports around France today as a strike by air traffic controllers entered its second day.
The civil aviation authority asked airlines to scrap around half of their flights to avoid chaos.
That was a little more than yesterday when the advance move proved successful as airports were not mobbed by angry passengers, who had been warned and made other plans.
The strike has been called by the main air traffic union SNCTA, which wants to negotiate over the working conditions of its members.
A particular bone of contention is the pushing back of the retirement age for air traffic controllers from 57 to 59.
Further industrial action is planned from April 16 to 18 and from April 29 to May 2, key holiday periods.
Flag carrier Air France said it was operating one in four flights to and from the Paris airport of Orly, around 40 percent to and from cities in the rest of the country and one in two medium-haul flights to and from the main capital airport of Charles-de-Gaulle.
The airline said long-haul flights were not affected today.
Low-cost operator EasyJet, meanwhile, said it had cancelled more than 220 flights, a little more than the previous day.
And its rival Ryanair fumed, saying it had been forced to scrap more than 500 flights altogether.
“We again call on the EU and French authorities to act now and prevent thousands of travellers being held to ransom by these French ATC (air traffic control) workers,” the Irish airline said in a statement.
Roger Rousseau, SNCTA union head, insists that the strike was not prompted by a spur-of-the-moment, angry decision.
“Since 2013, we’ve been taken for a ride meeting after meeting,” he said earlier this week.
The SNCTA had originally called the strike from March 25 to 27 but scrapped it after the Germanwings crash in the French Alps that killed 150.
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Unions… the bane of Ireland and our public sectors
@john Appleseed: Sure and we should replace them with bankers and bondholders and all of our problems would be solved overnight.
@Charles Williams: so bankers are a bunch of crooks so therefore we should accept our unions are a bunch of crooks too? Whataboutery at its finest
@john Appleseed: You’re thinking of governments
7.4%….and they even have to think twice about taking it? Most people would bite your hand offf for that sort of rise.
The real problem in the Health Service is the Union mentality. Old fashioned Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 mentality with not a finger lifted unless explicity written down on some contract. The Unions are the reason the health service is in such a state.
@Fred Jensen: nurses only work 9-5 Mon to Fri!!! Who is running the A&E Depts outside of those hours?
@MaryLoonyMcDonald:
A skeleton crew. It’s not just nurses, its all the other staff.
@Fred Jensen: There is a reason for “not lifting a finger before it is written in a contract”. It’s called reneging on a deal. Something the Government are quite good at.
@Fred Jensen: but but but you said they are 9-5 Mon to Fri…no you say different…did you lie?
@Fred Jensen: The HSE management is the reason the health service is in such a state.
@MaryLoonyMcDonald:
Where did Fred say nurses only work 9 to 5? Try reading the post correctly before getting your knickers in a twist
@Fred Jensen: I Think Your Mixing Up Porter’s With Nurses
@Fred Jensen: Up to 7.4%. Most won’t get that. We can’t keep nurses in this country because we expect superhuman efforts for crap pay. It’s time nurses were respected and paid accordingly.
@Nick Allen: you read the post again…fool
@MaryLoonyMcDonald:
Those knickers are getting even more twisted. Take a deep breath and read it slowly and it may sink in.
@Piarais Mac Maoláin:
Yes Fred changed the topic slightly but it is still somewhat related. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he refereed to the HEalth Service and not nurses. Furthermore, he didn’t even say they anyone worked 9 to 5, he said it was the 9 to 5 attitude.
Mary Lou completely misread the post and jumped in accusing him of tell lies. She saw and opportunity to have a pop at someone and got her knickers in a twist and got it all wrong. She should either take in on the chin and say sorry or run and hide. Instead the silly girl comes back and suggests I am the fool and that I should read it again. Some people just never learn
@Nick Allen: you have some weird dyslexic fetish.
@Piarais Mac Maolàin: It’s the same for carers in nursing homes & they get crap pay even though they do the bulk of looking after residents. I don’t hear anyone up in arms over it.
@Caroline Reddy: Why should nurses be respected?
@MaryLoonyMcDonald:
Another stupid comment. Do you really find it amusing to make a joke of people with dyslexia? Face the facts, you screwed up and are now making a mess of trying to get out of it. Read Fred’s comment again and tell me where is said nurses work 9 to 5. Maybe you are not getting your knickers in a twist, maybe you’re just a bit dim and don’t have the ability to understand the comment.
@Piarais Mac Maoláin: my shift is 07:30 Am to 08:30pm… don’t forget those Haddington Road Hours we don’t get paid for! Many would give up that pay rise than have to come in an extra day a month for no pay!!! Great way to get work out of us
Time for nurses to stand firm and not be sold out by INMO again.What a disaster of a union
@John Mcloughlin:
I agree the union are a disaster but what are you suggesting the nurses should do? Stand firm for a greater increase?
Scurrilous when newly qualified nurses have to work for minimum wages in their first year when they can go to the likes of Canada, are appreciated and earn $45000
Union leaders who get full pay and more, recommend that workers settle for far less then normal wage. Nice.
@Patabake Kennedy: Union leaders don’t want members going on strike as they will have to give back some of their subscriptions.
Nevermind restoration. Give them an overall increase. Not all heroes wear capes but plenty wear scrubs. No one in favour of reducing their pay has spent time in their care. Invest in them, attract the best and reap the rewards in improved care and confidence.
Was the patient safety issue discussed, patients on trollys, overcrowding.
@@mdmak33: All the above are not the fault of the nurses. They don’t make policy. They can only make the best of what they are given.
Again the union turning its back on the nurses every time there is a chance of extra money for the nurses and the nurses need a good increase as they have been run over by the union time after time..Plenty of money for other front line workers but very little for the front line nurses
“Union recommends nurses don’t recieve back pay”. Bit of a obvious headline.
Liam is looking to feather his own retirement nest. More the fools if the members listen to him.
An absolute disaster of a union, only has members as they run the income protection insurance scheme. Liams wages have skyrocketed over the last 10 years, his members wages have fallen behind all front line professionals, bigger fools them, if they wont pay what your worth, walk out.
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