The Greek Air Traffic Controllers’ Association announced the withdrawal of its call for participation in the 24-hour strike organised by ADEDY on Wednesday 28 February, following the judgement that the strike was illegal and abusive.
The union expresses its strong dissatisfaction with the decision of the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to take legal action against the participation of air traffic controllers in the strike. This action is particularly disappointing as it coincides with the first anniversary of the unspeakable tragedy in Tempe. The government, showing unprecedented insensitivity, has taken action to ban colleagues from participating in such an important strike, while at the same time there are serious problems in the air transport sector and an appeal has recently been made in Parliament to avoid ‘aviation’ incidents such as the one in Tempe. It is important to note that the right to strike has been effectively taken away from our sector, despite our union’s full compliance with the conditions set out in Law 4808/2021 regarding strikes, the union noted in its statement.
The entire statement
“EEEKE, respecting the court decision of the district court, withdraws the call to its members to participate in the 24-hour strike of ADEDY on February 28.
However, it is distressing that the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport chose to appeal to the judiciary against the participation of air traffic controllers in this strike, a strike coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the unspeakable tragedy at Tempi. Demonstrating unprecedented insensitivity, the government sought to prohibit colleagues from participating in such a significant strike mobilization at a time when critical issues exist in the field of air transport, while recently in the Parliament, there was a plea to avoid “aerial” Tempi incidents. It is worth noting that, in effect, the right to strike has been removed from our sector, despite our Union’s full compliance with the conditions imposed by Law 4808/2021 regarding strikes.
The management of air traffic in Greece, a critical sector of transportation and tourism, has been significantly harmed in recent years by the lack of modern and reliable systems. For two decades, beyond some upgrades, there has been no replacement of any of the critical systems, leaving Controllers to work with aged and technologically outdated equipment, which lacks the required availability level. Simultaneously, they are deprived of modern tools that allow more efficient management of the ever-increasing volume of air traffic, while the country is being dragged to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to comply with and implement EU law requirements.
The long-standing absence of critical system procurement, combined with a complete lack of strategic planning and the stagnation of ongoing procurement processes, raises concerns among Controllers, who daily exert themselves to address the chronic incapacity of the Civil Aviation Service to provide them with the necessary work tools.
Currently, more than four (4) different communication systems are installed in Greece, with the newest being 23 years old. The existing radar systems are equally outdated, without the possibility of finding spare parts. Amidst this situation, the Athens Approach System and the Athens and Macedonia Area Control Centers have recorded two total losses of radar display in a few years and many more minor losses. Similar problems are presented in Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, and Corfu. Contrary to this embarrassing image for our country, neighboring Balkan countries are years ahead in terms of technological equipment.
The fragmentation of system procurements, which are highly interdependent, and the complications arising from executing such a large number of public procurements for such significant amounts have led the equipment procurement into a deadlock, from which we must emerge immediately, or air traffic control in Greece will not be able to cope with the increasing traffic volume and will collapse. Notably, even if the related contracts were signed today, the delivery time could reach or even exceed 24 or in some cases 36 months.
Additionally, the Control Towers in almost all regional airports require upgrading, as the spaces they offer are limited and cannot support the development of new job positions. Many of them face serious structural problems due to age and natural phenomena, while shameful and abandoned scenes, which we reserve to publish at a later time, are encountered inside them. Also, access to the Towers of Thessaloniki and Rhodes is through the aircraft runway, requiring employees to cover long distances to arrive and depart from their work, in a dangerous environment for their physical integrity. There have been incidents of accidents involving Air Traffic Controllers on their way through the aircraft runway.
The chronic staffing issue is emphatically highlighted at every opportunity, as the understaffing rate of our sector currently averages 20%, while in KEPATHM, which is the largest air traffic control provision unit, it reaches 40%. There are significant staff shortages at many of our island airports, which, through continuous voluntary transfers of colleagues every tourist season, we have managed to keep open and serve the passenger public. Even if all the necessary recruitments were made today, it would take 2-5 years for the new colleagues to be operationally utilizable.
The trainings rely on the honor of fellow trainers on their days off, without even providing them with the training compensation that occurs in all other European countries, while countries like Turkey use the ultra-modern facilities of Eurocontrol for their training.
Characteristic of the sad situation in which the Civil Aviation Authority finds itself is that even basic consumables necessary for the work of an air traffic controller are not provided by the Service and are purchased by colleagues, while even basic hygiene issues such as regular disinfections/pest controls are not planned.
We are just a few weeks away from the start of the tourist season, and while initiatives should have already been undertaken to address the aforementioned extremely critical problems, the Civil Aviation Authority is essentially headless, under the responsibility of the Ministry, which, although it has requested the resignation of the current administration six months ago, is still unsuccessfully trying to appoint a new administration.
The aforementioned issues have been communicated in writing, in detail, and officially to the current leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, from the first month of taking office, along with proposed solutions. The Ministry, which historically opts for inaction against all critical problems, eagerly proceeded with the project of remote towers, which is unnecessary, dangerous, and practically inapplicable (as we have analyzed in a previous press release), with money from the Recovery Fund, squandering funds that could have been used to solve the serious problems plaguing aviation.
One year after the Tempi tragedy, not only has nothing changed, not only are the problems magnifying, but unfortunately, there is not even the hope of solving them in the near future.
The tourist season is starting very soon, and the Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers’ Association once again sounds the alarm, in an atmosphere of deep disappointment and concern.
