Spanish govt. to hold crisis meeting

The Spanish government is set to hold a crisis meeting after the country’s air traffic controllers strike over pay and working hours.

Spain’s government warned on Saturday that any striking air traffic controller who fails to quit the strike and return to work will be subject to arrest.

According to Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, air traffic controllers who do not resume work could face criminal charges.

Spain’s air traffic controllers left their posts amid a lengthy dispute over working conditions, just hours after the administration of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigo Zapatero approved an austerity measure to partially privatize airports.

The Spanish strikers are asking for better income and working hours.

Earlier, Spain’s air traffic authority, known as ‘Aena,’ estimated that 200,000 people were affected by disrupted flights, and angry passengers complained they were left with no information on when they might be able to head to their destinations.

The government has now taken control of the situation, after workers staged a mass walk-out on Friday.

A state of alert may be declared if the strikers do not return to work.

Following the strike, several airports across the country shut down and still remain closed.