The CCOO, UGT and USO unions last week gave advance warning of their intention to call strikes at Spain's airports from September. They have now made this official. A schedule of strikes was today (Wednesday) presented to the Commission for Conciliation and Arbitration.
The strikes, if they go ahead, will be 24-hour stoppages on 25 days from 15 September. The dates are: 15, 17, 22, 24 and 29 September; 1, 6, 11, 15, 27, 30 and 31 October; 3 and 5 November; 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 of December. Certain ones are timed for periods of high passenger movement, e.g. Christmas and the national day (12 October).
Since May, workers in the Aena Group, which means both Aena and Enaire*, have been making demands for improved salaries and for an employment plan. The unions said last week that if there wasn't any positive response to these demands, then strikes would be called. A meeting with the ministry of development (responsible for air transport) is scheduled for 31 August. It is being said that this might be delayed, though the UGT is also saying that it is confident that this meeting with the transport secretary-of-state, Julio Gómez-Pomar, will be productive in arriving at an agreement.
Unions argue that wage demands are justified because workers have lost eight per cent of their spending power since 2010, while Aena and Enaire have been registering "extraordinary results".
Different categories of airport worker would be affected by these strikes. They include airport fire crews, staff for aircraft refuelling and manoeuvring, retail and security personnel, and workers who maintain control towers.
* Enaire is the company which holds the 51% of Aena shares that were not privatised. It is also responsible for air navigation and airspace coordination/management via five control centres and 22 control towers. Aena, the airports authority, perhaps confusingly stands for Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea.
12 comments
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Such a shame have enjoyed visiting puerto pollensa for twenty years ,after a visit in June and being herded in the airport and all the publicity about not wanting tourists we have sadly decided not to visit until both the system and the attitude towards visitors changes .
They say be careful what you wish for. I think next year they will get it, Fewer tourists.
The mallorquins are doing everything they can to bankrupt the country. No tourism means no income for the country but hey! militants don't think that way. To them its all about the principal of socialism - spend someone else's money for very little input.
Having come to Mallorca several times a year for fortyfive years, have decided that the proposed October visit is off. Now in our eighties, cannot cope with hassle of Palma airport. As a bar owner friend once said, without tourists we would all be peasants !
Two of us are booked into a flat arriving 15th September and leaving on the 22nd so congratulations to the strikers for putting our holiday in doubt. I can only hope that you all suffer the same disruption when you want to travel. Florida for us next year !
Was due to come back in Sept. I won't bother now untill next year, its not worth the hassle. Sad.
Are they mad the island on a low with sh. T that goes in U.K.papers every week to strike could just push the knife in thoughter it's not as if they work hard all year round lolll
Thought they were on strike last Thursday when arrived, 60 minutes wait for luggage,no taxis,then very slow procession of taxis driving to rank,another 20 mins wait.This island has a lot in common with the late Charles Bronson. Death Wish!
Airport queues, anti tourist demonstrations, holiday renting fiasco, taxi strikes, proposed increase in tourist tax and now an airport strike!! Couple this with the rude and arrogant attitude of many restaurant staff(I've lost count of the number my wife and I have walked out of) and is it any wonder that this beautiful island has lost its appeal for many.
Also the end of the October half term week. Those families wanting a last week in hopefully some sun, may be able to get to Majorca, but may struggle to get back on Friday 27th October. This is also when some airlines start their winter schedules. I hate to say this, but at least, the strikers are not on strike during the peak summer season. Let's just hope all parties can get around the negotiating table and sort this out before it gets out of hand.