French air controllers call new strike after talks fail

   PARIS, February 13, 2008 – French air traffic controllers have called a
new strike after talks with aviation authorities over their plans to
centralise operations broke down late Tuesday, both sides said.
   The CGT union called a strike at Paris-Orly airport from February 18 to 22,
and said it would announce further action Wednesday at the main Paris airport
Charles de Gaulle and air controller offices at Athis-Mons, near Orly.
   "The meeting failed because the positions are too far apart," Patrick
Gandil, director general of France’s General Directorate for Civil Aviation
(DGAC), told AFP after the talks, accusing the CGT of refusing to compromise.
   For his part, union leader Philippe Lohat said the negotiations failed
"despite the new proposals put by the CGT".
   Members of the communist-led General Labour Confederation (CGT) union went
out on strike Monday at Orly airport and at Charles de Gaulle Tuesday,
disrupting traffic at both.
   The walkout, called over plans to centralise air traffic control for the
Paris region at a single base, had already been planned to continue through to
Friday at Orly and to Wednesday at Charles de Gaulle.

AFP