Spain Airport Operator Unions Call Strikes Against Privatization

The two main unions at Spanish airport operator AENA on Thursday called 27 strike days between February and August in protest at the partial privatization of the firm.

The first strike is scheduled for February 11, the day the state will list a minority stake on the world's largest airport operator, the secretary general of one of the two unions, USO-AENA, said.

The two unions that called the industrial action, CCOO and USO, represent 70 percent of the roughly 9,000 workers at AENA's 46 airports and two heliports in Spain.

They also called for 22 full-day strikes, including seven in July and five in August during the peak summer travel season.

The last strike will be on August 31.

The unions said they "totally reject the entry of private capital in AENA".

The Spanish government said last week it would list 28 percent of the operator on the stock market on February 11 and had agreed to seen another 21 percent to three private-sector anchor investors.

It will retain a narrow majority of 51 percent in AENA. Transport Minister Ana Pastor tried to reassure union when she announced the listing by insisting the company would remain a public enterprise.

AENA set the price range for next month's listing at 43 to 55 euros per share, which values the company at between 6.45 and 8.25 billion euros ($7.32 billion and $9.36 billion).