Romania's air traffic administration loses EUR 250,000 on controllers’ strike

The Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration – ROMATSA, the state-owned company that ensures air traffic safety in Romania, stands to lose some EUR 250,000 because of the 2-hour warning strike of its 600 air traffic controllers on July 15, according to the company’s general manager Ion-Aurel Stanciu, reports local Digi24. The air traffic controllers went on strike between 11:00 and 13:00, during which time they only monitored planes that transited Romania’s air space. Some 17 flights departing and arriving on Romania’s Henri Coanda International Airport were delayed due to the strike. ROMATSA’s board president, Marcel Parvu, who’s also an advisor to the Transport Ministry, resigned yesterday. The Transport Ministry’s representatives called the air traffic controllers and ROMATSA’s management to negotiations for an agreement. ROMATSA’s air traffic controllers, who are among the best paid employees in Romania, with salaries averaging EUR 4,500 went on strike as the company didn’t renew their collective labor contract. Their demands are not related to salary level but to lowering of their retirement age and better work conditions. An air traffic controller directs 400 to 500 planes each day, which makes this one of the most stressful jobs. ROMATSA had a EUR 175 mln turnover and a EUR 9.4 mln net profit in 2014. editor@romania-insider.com