Air Traffic Controllers European Union Coordination (ATCEUC) condemned what they called 'absolute ignorance' of AlbControl Management regarding the fundamentals of a healthy Social Dialogue. 

Reacting over the situation created in Albania after the cancellation of all flight to and from Albania due to air controllers strike, ATCEUC said that employees were put under enormous additional stress which impairs the safety of their operation. 

In Albania, five ATCOs have been fired because, due to the heavy stress they have been living with over the last year, exacerbated by unilateral cut in salaries of up to 70%, their dismissal occurred after they declared temporary inability due to these stresses in accordance with the Albanian ATCOs' Competence scheme. After the five had been fired, Albanian ATCOs gathered to discuss the behavior of the Albanian ANSP with their minister but the intervention of the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy failed to deliver any results.

On safety topics, it is natural to have differing opinions within the European ATM sector. Problems can only be solved through a real and meaningful dialogue and never through totalitarian approaches. ATCEUC urges to AlbControl to reinstate immediately the ATCOs they fired and invites the Albanian National Government and Authorities to thoroughly assess the Social Dialogue practices of the current ANSP's Management team. It would be wise not to underestimate the solidarity amongst European Air Traffic Controllers when witnessing such clear manifestation of abuse of power that our colleagues from Albania are facing!," says statement.