By Libya Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 26 May 2015:
In a rare if awkward sign that Libya is not completely split into two, airport handlers . . .[restrict]and airline caterers have gone on strike across the country, forcing delays and cancellations at Tripoli’s Mitiga and Misrata airports as well as at Labrak.
Members of the General Union of Air Transport Workers (GUAT), along with staff at the Libyan Company for Ground Handling and the Libyan Company for Air Catering who say they have not been paid for two months, announced just over a week ago that they would go on strike on 25 May if they were not paid. In a statement at the time, they said that there had been discussions with officials on the issue but there had been no progress. There was none, as far as the union was concerned.
For the moment, the strike is partial but incremental. It started yesterday at 6am and lasted until midday, after which international flights departed and landed.
Today it started at 6am and lasts until 6pm. Tomorrow, starting at the same time, it is set to last until 11.45pm. Thereafter, the union warns, if there is no money on the table, it will become a fulltime strike.
In Labrak, flights flights would have had to be cancelled in any event because of a strong ghibli (sand storm).
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