French air traffic controllers plan strike for September 18

PARIS - French air traffic controllers are planning to launch a new strike on September 18 for better pay and conditions, the main union in the sector, the SNCTA, said in a statement.

"On numerous occasions, the SNCTA has favoured social dialogue and made concrete proposals," said the union, which represents around 60% of workers.

"It is clear that this fruitless dialogue is now blocking any prospect of progress and reform," said the statement released this week and seen by AFP on Thursday.

The union called for "a profound change in the management of operations", complaining of "mistrust, punitive practices and humiliating management methods".

The announcement follows a strike by French air traffic controllers in early July that brought chaos to European skies. Then, flights booked by hundreds of thousands of people were cancelled at the start of the summer vacation period.

The industrial action in July was launched by smaller unions, while the SNCTA abstained.

The SNCTA union said in this week's statement that pay for air traffic controllers must be adjusted for inflation.

"Authorities are widening the gap with their European counterparts and undermining the purchasing power of French air traffic controllers," the group said.

UNSA-ICNA, the second biggest labour group in the sector, which launched the industrial action in July, has decried "toxic management practices".

The union has also criticised "chronic understaffing" and outdated equipment.

The timing of the new strike is acute, with many fearing that France risks a new period of prolonged political and financial instability.

The French government may fall in a budget standoff next month, and an anti-government campaign dubbed "Bloquons tout" ("Let's block everything"), backed by the left, has urged the French to stage a nationwide shutdown on September 10.