Bercelona airport replaces striking security personnel with National Guard troops.
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With Barcelona’s El Prat airport bursting at the seams at the height of the holiday season and travellers
suffering long queues and delays already, on Friday things got much worse as security staff staged a strike.
The situation is so bad national guard troops are being drafted in to handle security and check tourists’ onboard luggage.
The airport is one of Spain’s busiest tourist hubs, and the security is handled by private company Eulen.
Friday saw a partial walk-out by staff, and there will be further industrial action on Sunday and Monday.
Workers want the company to hire more staff and raise wages. If by August 14th their demands are not met, they say they will strike indefinitely.
Travellers are being warned to arrive four hours early.
The workers’ union organised a ballot to endorse the strike action, which members claim has been made inevitable by the company’s refusal to seriously negotiate.