Air traffic controller

Air-traffic controllers have called a four-hour work stoppage from 9 a.m. on Thursday. The controllers are protesting staff shortages and working conditions.

They also claim that pledges to upgrade their equipment have not been fulfilled. Courts often block action by air-traffic controllers.

An Athens court on Thursday ruled that a strike called by Greek air traffic controllers this weekend, October 4 and 5, was illegal. As a result of the court’s decision, air travel was expected to run smoothly across the country on those days.

Greek air traffic controllers are set to go on strike this coming weekend (October 4 and 5) in protest at the use of airport charges.

The union representing the controllers called for the protest action after a ministerial decision gave the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) access to airport fees.

An increase in the number of flights arriving in and departing from Greece is putting local air-traffic controllers under too much stress, their union said on Wednesday as it announced plans to launch protest action next month.

The union said that its members’ health and air safety are at risk and called for more funding for training, wages and equipment to be made available.