Spain - Iberia ground staff to strike over public holidays
There is a threat of an air traffic strike in Spain over the holidays. The UGT and CCOO unions have called on ground staff at the airline Iberia to strike for a total of eight days over the New Year and the Epiphany on January 6, which is particularly important in Spain. This was reported unanimously by the state TV station RTVE and other media. The strike was triggered by fears that working conditions could deteriorate.
The background to this is that Iberia Airport Services, which is responsible for handling aircraft, lost almost all of its contracts with major Spanish airports, with the exception of Madrid-Barajas, to competitors in a tender in September. This means that in future it will no longer be responsible for handling aircraft landing and taking off from all airlines. Around 7,000 employees feared that they would have to work under worse conditions with new licensees.
RTVE reported that the unions were using the strike to ensure that Iberia at least takes over the handling of all aircraft of the airlines belonging to its parent company IAG - Iberia, British Airways, Level, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Air Nostrum - at the affected Spanish airports. Iberia rejected this for cost reasons. The days of December 29, 30 and 31 as well as January 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been named as strike days.
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- The airline Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España S.A. is confronted with a potential strike by its ground staff during the upcoming holidays in Spain, which could significantly impact air traffic.
- The strike is primarily aimed at preventing potential deterioration of working conditions for the ground staff, who fear the loss of their contracts at other major Spanish airports to competitors.
- Affected airports include Madrid-Barajas, where Iberia Airport Services currently handles aircraft landing and taking off for all airlines, including those belonging to IAG - Iberia, British Airways, Level, Vueling, Aer Lingus, and Air Nostrum.
- The unions demanding the strike are seeking to ensure that Iberia continues handling all aircraft for the IAG airlines at the affected airports, but Iberia has rejected this proposal due to cost considerations.
- With holidays such as New Year and Epiphany falling under the strike days, travelers planning to fly during this period are advised to closely monitor any potential changes in their travel plans.
Source: www.stern.de
