The Government of Spain has announced, in the face of the conflict triggered by the air traffic controllers who in a "surprising and collective" way have abandoned their jobs, forcing the closure of a large part of Spanish airspace, that the Ministry of Defense will assume control of the airspace if the controllers do not return to work.
Faced with this situation, it has required this group to "immediately return" to their jobs as well as to "cease an attitude" that is causing "serious damage" to citizens, they explain in a statement.
It also indicates that the Council of Ministers has approved Royal Decree-Law 13/2010, of December 3, which includes an amendment to the Air Safety Law, according to which, if they persist in their attitude, they will proceed to submit "the air traffic controllers of the aforementioned entity to the direction of the Ministry of Defense, who will assume their organization, planning, supervision and control.
"No worker, governing body or organization may hinder or prevent the effectiveness of said measure. Failure to comply with this obligation will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of article 4 of this Law, without prejudice to any other civil or criminal liability that may arise," explains the Government of Spain in a statement.
Finally, it specifies that the aforementioned Royal Decree-Law is published on this same day, entering into force at the time of its publication, at 21:30 hours (20:30 Canary time), and, consequently, "it is fully applicable from that time".
In this sense, the Executive warns that the Ministry of Development will use "all legal means" at its disposal to ensure the "freedom of air traffic and the safeguarding of the rights of citizens".
