oh my god, what a relief, i can type now i can see, sobbed like a baby with relief, thanks to all who kept updating,

Thank you!! YES have a fab vaccation!!! I WILL

Blimey!!! Can't believe how relieved I feel!! P.A.R.T.Y.!!!!!!!

Just phoned hubby at work - he couldn't stop laughing!!!!

Feel like I've just won the lottery - Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the info & updates - was slight bit of panic there I must say!!!

Everybody enjoy there well earned and looked foward too holidays!!

Yes I couldn't agree more.... what a relief!! I wonder if these people know what they put us through!!! Bring on the holidays!

The president of the Spanish Association of Airlines (AECA), Felipe Navio has valued "positively" the decision of the USCA controllers' union not to call a strike in August and hoped it would put an end to "a period of uncertainty .

Speaking to Europa Press, Ship said the sector "need peace to end the summer as planned," but said that many passengers have been affected and "one way or another" by the possible strike.

Finally, in the hope that the representatives of the drivers and AENA return to the negotiating table, the president hoped that AECA is finally possible to achieve "appropriate agreements."

Are you sure? I feel like crying with relief! Will worry about returning in September at the time! Just want to get out there and have a few sangrias and enjoy the holiday. Thanks to all of you (especially Hippyjak who really made it so much more understandable!)Hope we all have a good holiday.

Yes, i hope they don't begin this shi* in september .. if anyone read anything about september im glad if you post it here! They just talk about august. But i think we are safe to

Yes a big THANKS to all for keeping us informed! Roll on airport, flight and beach

WHOOP! WHOOP! Silly question - but how do I get the Smilies to work?

In the end, there will be no strike. Air Traffic Controllers (USCA) met late on Tuesday to discuss his decision. The nine people representing the different workplaces (towers, control and central services) have chosen not to strike and agree to continue negotiations with Aena in September.

The drivers, in "an exercise of responsibility" as just announced the union spokesman, César Cabo, have decided not to exercise during the month of August, the right to strike. He also alluded to the words spoken this morning by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, calling it "positive and constructive."

Caesar had declared the Cape just before the meeting started, the decision passed by the Committee shall be valid and final, so no need to have that to go through an endorsement by the National Assembly of controllers, who already voted to strike with 98% of the vote.

. USCA spokesman made it clear that the meeting today is to go out a solution to clarify the position of negotiating with AENA keep drivers for the new collective agreement and which led them to announce a possible strike call on 3 August.

"We are most interested in reaching a solution as soon as possible and give an answer," said the Cape itself, to remember who advocate a "reasonable time" for the group in line with their European counterparts.

http://www.elconfidencial.com

Thanks Hippyjak! Sure we wont be affected, glad they take a "break" with negotiations until september, that means nothing can go wrong in the beginning of the month when we fly to mallorca! thanks!

The Executive Committee of the Union of Air Traffic Controllers Association (USCA) on Tuesday unanimously agreed to call a strike in August to continue negotiating with the airport operator AENA their working conditions.

This was explained in remarks to journalists' union spokesman, César Cape, who said he took this decision on the "responsibility" and because he understands the concern of the tourism industry and passengers.

The union has decided "not to exercise during the month of August its legal right to strike. An exercise in responsibility in the union understood the concern of the tourism sector and many passengers."

USCA Executive Committee consists of nine members, who have taken the decision not to strike in August after being informed on the status of the negotiations by members of the Board of the union.

"We now hope that AENA return to the negotiating table," said Cape. The airport operator had made a condition for further negotiations that the union withdrew its strike threat.

In addition, the USCA spokesman referred to the last words of the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to indicate that behind them are confident that AENA return to the negotiating table "with an attitude, now, constructive."

""We understand that the Government will push AENA to return to the table, which stood, with a constructive attitude to solve the impasse that has brought the negotiations," he said.

"We are expecting to resume negotiations tomorrow," said spokesman USCA.

USCA Board of Directors was empowered to call a strike until 31 August, which placed the starting date of a possible strike on 10 September.

The negotiation between controllers and AENA has been suspended since last Friday, when the airport manager demanded an end to the threat of strike and argued USCA should convene its Executive Committee to make that decision.

The main stumbling block of the negotiation are the working hours and wages. AENA intends to 1670 hours per year plus up to overtime, and average pay 200,000 euros per year.

For its part, claims USCA 1450 hours, which AENA would accept if the hours were reduced progressively until 2013 as long as the pay checks are lowered proportionally.

Looks to me as though they only had upto 31st August to call a strike - which would have taken the strike action to start from the 10th September - so September should be clear!! Double Yayy!

Happy days. Costa Del Sol here I come

Roll on the 19th

The Spanish tourism industry has breathed relief today after the decision of the Executive Committee of the Union of Air Traffic Controllers Association (USCA) not to call a strike in August. The announcement of the union's communications secretary, César Cabo, there will be no stoppages from the last week of this month has been welcomed by the management of airlines, travel agents and hoteliers, who had consistently called to controllers who do not convene and even withdraw the threat, as they feared a wave of cancellations of tour packages to Spain.

The chairman of the public manager of airports, Juan Lema, also today called on the group to abandon the latter idea of the strike and chose the path to negotiate. Also from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) discouraging messages arrive to the call for strikes: "This is no time for strikes. Arbitration is a fair, open and neutral to resolve the differences between AENA and air traffic controllers. This avoid the negative impact of a strike on the Spanish economy, "said its director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani, who also added that" with 20% unemployment, Spain can not afford the devastating effects of a strike by drivers air, especially in the tourism sector. "

In the same vein, the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has asked air traffic controllers to act "responsibly" and finally convene no unemployment

Just to know that there will be no drivers' strike in August, the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) welcomed the decision as "great news, because it ends the uncertainty which weighed on the decision of the controllers

"Separately, the four airlines employers (acetic, AECA, ACA and ALA) released a statement expressing confidence that this decision" terminated "to a week "characterized" by the "uncertainty" and a "long period of repeated incidents" which, they claim, has caused "serious injury" and "serious damage to airlines, tourism and the economy as a whole ".

In addition, the president of the Business Association of Travel Agencies Spanish (AEDAVE), José Manuel Maciñeiras, AENA asked that" pick up the gauntlet "launched by the controllers to continue to negotiate and settle the dispute with this group.

Although no date was set for the strike, just the notification of one was already affecting the industry, especially the tourists who wait until last minute to book their vacation. According to industry sources, 30% of sales are closed at this time.

Thankyou Hippyjak and all you others that have worked so hard over the last few days. Flying out to Alicante with family on 18th so very relieved that strike will not go ahead. I have been glued to this screen since last Thursday checking for new posts, so i can finally relax and begin packing!
Thankyou!!!!

I'm a bit confused, do they not still have until 31st August to call a strike then? Am worried as we're coming home on 11th Sept!

No worries - no strike action to be called!! Will keep checking over the next few days for you but I think we can say it's all over phew!

I think they were allowed legally to call a strike by the 31st August - they have now said that the final decision is not to call a strike.

Fantastic! Thanks so much for the updates, happy holidays everyone!

Back on 9th September, so should be fine!!