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Threatened strike at Spanish Airports called off

The tourism industry breathed a sigh of relief as AENA, Unions and the Ministry of Development reached a tentative agreement that will avoid the 22-day strike at airports called for Easter and over the summer holidays. The deal, reported this morning, came after 17 hours of negotiation.

For the agreement to be reached between the unions (CCOO, UGT and the USO and the direction of AENA) must be approved by the assembly of the unions and workers and ratified by AENA in a referendum, which could happen in middle to the end of next week.

Agreed terms

The preliminary terms provide that the collective agreement applies to all workers regardless of which AENA company they work for, including dealerships. This collective agreement shall remain in force until 2018.

Another aspect of the deal is that AENA have agreed to have a seat on the board of directors of the new model concession airport, specifically in the airport concessions from Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat

Also, the tentative agreement includes the maintaining of jobs and working conditions of workers of AENA, AENA airports and concessionaires.

Easter IS SAFE

Secretary of State for Transport, Isaiah Táboas, a member of the negotiating table, has welcomed the agreement under which “the tourism sector and citizens can be confident that they can travel during the Holy Week.”

Ever since the announcement of the strike on March 8, concern was widespread in the tourism industry. Táboas saw how it threatened the “slight recovery” that had been anticipated in previous months. The employers’ sector-hotels, travel agencies and other business groups, immediately expressed their firm opposition to a strike that would “cause irreparable damage to tourism and the image of Spain” urging the parties involved to agree terms to avoid the strike at airports.

The mere announcement of the strike in recent weeks has resulted in cancellations of bookings and travel arrangements. However, the tourism sector expects the negotiated settlement, reached with a sufficient margin of time before the holiday period at the beginning of Holy Week (17 to 24 April) to return to normal. This should allow for reservations and contracts within the tourist regions, which like the Canaries had been seriously jeopardized over the Easter holiday, to hang the “no vacancies” sign up once again.

Many thanks to Raquel Pérez for this article.  If you are in need of legal advice relating to any legal matter you can contact Racquel on the details below…

Raquel Pérez

Director

raquel@perezlegalgroup.com

Perez Legal Group

Centro Comercial Elviria, oficina 6

29604 Marbella

(T) +34 952 833 169

(F) + 34 952 830 262

(M) + 34 699 45 66 97

Raquel Pérez, Director, Pérez Legal Group.

The Spanish licence

European Union citizens can obtain a Spanish driving licence by exchanging your EU driving licence. You should go to your provincial traffic headquarters with your present licence and a photocopy, one photo, and your residence certificate or card and photocopy. Traffic office will need to verify your details with your home country’s authorities. The costs are around 26 Euros.

Using your EU licence

Also you can continue using your home country licence as it is no longer necessary to have this licence registered and stamped by the Spanish Traffic Department. EU rules require that Spain accept any EU licence as valid so this means that a holder of an UK licence must take the same medical exam that a Spanish driver has to take. If you are under 45 of age, the eye and reaction test is required every 10 years. From 45 to 70 years, you must pass the exam every five years. Be careful as if you are involved in an accident or a speeding violation at the age of 51 without having the medical test, you will be considered as driving with an expired licence and your insurance company may refuse to pay for damages if your licence is not valid and you may face penalties from the Traffic Department.

Traffic code

Spain’s revised traffic code went harder on speeders and prohibits the use of mobile phones while driving. It requires cars to carry reflective vests, regulats the use of child safety seats and stiffens penalties.

Police also are empowered to retain the licence of the driver if they estimate is not in condition to operate a vehicle. Drunk drivers face licence suspensions of one year and a possible six months in gaol.

Speeding

Exceeding the limit by 50% becomes a very serious infraction with fines up to 602 Euros and suspension of driving licence for 3 months.

This would also include someone driving at 150 kph on a normal highway with a limit of 100 kph.

Spanish points system

Drivers are assigned 12 points. New drivers, with less than 3 years of experience, begin only with 8 points. If the beginner drives for 2 years with no infractions, he gets 4 additional points to bring him up to 12

A driver can check on his number of points by going to the Traffic Department web site which is www.dgt.es. The site contains much more useful information.

Many thanks to Raquel Pérez for this very useful article.  If you are in need of legal advice relating to any legal matter you can contact Racquel on the details below…

Raquel Pérez

Director

raquel@perezlegalgroup.com

Perez Legal Group

Centro Comercial Elviria, oficina 6

29604 Marbella

(T) +34 952 833 169

(F) + 34 952 830 262

(M) + 34 699 45 66 97