Air traffic controllers at Belgian air navigation service provider Skeyes have announced a series of overnight strikes at Charleroi Airport after negotiations over an allowance for night shifts broke down.


The strikes are due to begin on Wednesday, September 16, with Skeyes employees stopping work each night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The action could continue through Saturday, October 10, potentially disrupting a large number of flights, particularly during the first few days.


The dispute is linked to plans to introduce “digital towers” to manage flights at Charleroi and Liège airports. A new digital control centre in Namur is due to handle air traffic for the two Walloon airports.


A trade union representing workers at Charleroi filed a strike notice at the end of July, although no industrial action ultimately took place at that time. Several subsequent attempts to mediate the dispute also failed, with management saying on Monday afternoon that talks had ended without an agreement.


According to Skeyes management, air traffic controllers at Charleroi are demanding that their night-time allowance be increased to 160% of its current level. The allowance already exceeds €1,000 per shift, management said.


“Skeyes cannot agree to this, given that the airport is closed at night.”


Lennert Mervilde, a representative of the VSOA trade union, said the controllers were seeking parity with other Skeyes units where a night allowance is paid.


“The Charleroi air traffic controllers are asking for the same night allowance that applies in other units where a night allowance is paid,” Mervilde said.


He disputed management’s argument that there is no night-time activity because the airport is officially closed.


“There is an agreement between Charleroi Airport and Ryanair allowing aircraft based there to still land. Last week, for example, the last aircraft arrived at 05:20.”


Management has described the planned industrial action as disproportionate to the dispute.


“A ten-hour work stoppage every night for 24 consecutive nights could have very significant consequences for the operation of Charleroi Airport, the airlines and their passengers, as well as for the many other businesses and employees who depend on airport activity,” it said.


By Tamilla Hasanova