Alagaesian

You’d think that an airline strike 2 years back where you spent 3 days trying to get to your destination is bad enough.  Nope, this week’s airport strike is worse.  

The Norwegian Airport Authority, Avinor, did not reach an agreement with the worker’s union last Thursday / Friday midnight and therefore the workers went on strike Friday morning which closed down 5 airports in Norway.  To make matters worse, Saturday was the National Day.  Thousands got stuck somewhere not able to be with family for the big traditional celebrations.  

I had visitors (my uncle and aunt) visiting me from Australia while they are on holiday in Europe.  They were supposed to arrive Bergen Friday night but instead had to fly to Stavanger and take the bus for 6 hours to get to Bergen.  I was also up on the phone the whole day of Friday booking and rebooking flights, doing research on hotels and buses and ferries thinking of alternatives for them to get here to join the 17th May celebrations in Bergen.

The threat of strikes seems to have become a yearly tradition in Norway where various unions negotiate pay raises during spring.  As of the time of writing, the parties are still far from reaching any agreement and hence the strike threatens to expand to other airports, including Oslo.  God forbid they continue to be stubborn and still be on strike when my visitors are supposed to fly out!

Maybe we should start throwing rotten tomatoes at the airport, or maybe the union???  This is freaking economic sabotage and such a big hassle for travelers.  A big embarrassment in Norway I reckon.  

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