For the fourth month in a row, helicopter pilots serving emergency services in Cantabria and the Basque Country have been on strike. The reasons go beyond stagnant wages, including ongoing staff cuts and worsening working conditions. Over the past few years, the situation has only deteriorated: employees are forced to work overtime, and shifts are scheduled at the last minute, making it impossible to balance work and personal life.
The problem is especially acute in Cantabria, where a single base serves two regions at once. This leads to overload and puts lives at risk: whereas rescuers used to respond to emergencies promptly, now they have to wait until the only crew is available. Unlike Galicia, where there are two separate bases, here there are simply no backup teams.
Recently, the company managing the base reinstated the on-call-at-home mode. Now, instead of waiting at work, pilots stand by for calls at home, which increases emergency response times to up to 45 minutes. In Cantabria’s harsh climate, this can be fatal: in winter’s cold waters, every minute counts.
Working conditions and a mass exodus of specialists
Pilots are working beyond legal limits: annual hours reach up to 2,000, while the law caps them at 1,826. Schedules are drawn up at the last minute, and salaries have not been reviewed in ten years. Many experienced professionals choose to move abroad, where working conditions and pay are significantly better. European companies are actively recruiting Spanish pilots, especially during the summer wildfire season when their expertise is in high demand.
Most emergency service contracts are awarded by government agencies, yet working conditions fall far short of public service standards. Private companies, often owned by foreign investors, seek to cut costs, leading to constant staff reductions and increased workload for those who remain.
Prospects and demands of the strikers
Pilots are demanding shorter working hours, advance scheduling, and salary reviews. They note that despite the importance of their work, it remains undervalued. Regional rescue and firefighting services rely on these specialists, but their protests have yet to bring about change. Employers are not engaging in dialogue, and government bodies are in no hurry to intervene.
Emergency services are required to operate almost as usual even during strikes, as their work is considered essential. This has fueled further discontent among employees, who feel their demands are being ignored. Pilots now plan to hold a protest in Madrid to draw national attention to the issue.
