Air traffic controllers star in the second strike this Monday at 16 airports in Spain

Air traffic controllers at 16 airports in Spain have gone on strike for the second consecutive Monday.

Workers at private companies Saerco and FerroNats claim they are among the lowest paid air traffic controllers in Europe, with the sector partially privatized in 2011.

The affected airports are: La Coruña, Alicante-Elche, Castellón, Cuatro Vientos, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Jerez, Lanzarote, La Palma, Lleida, Murcia, Sabadell, Seville, Valencia and Vigo

The strikes called by the CCOO and USCA unions take place every Monday until at least the end of the month.

USCA union spokesman in Seville, Gregorio Claros, said: “We could continue until Easter week or maybe even into the summer.”

Like seven days before, the disruption to flights has been negligible as minimum services must be provided under Spanish law.

Talks between unions and companies broke down in January.

Unions say this year’s contract renewal means staff are forced to work harder under worse financial conditions.

The USCA union says that a fruitful negotiation is key “at this time when air traffic is returning to normal levels and the image of the Spanish tourism sector is being damaged by delays at airports.”