Baggage handler strike called at Spanish airports
The industrial action has been scheduled for the December long weekend in Aena airports across Spain
Falling just a couple of weeks before Christmas, the December long weekend is traditionally a very busy one for Spanish airports, with many expats flying home to enjoy the festive season and others jetting off on city breaks for a bit of last-minute shopping.
To exert the maximum pressure, the UGT union has called a strike for baggage handlers during the December ‘puente’ at all Aena airports across Spain. Workers are protesting against the “uncertainty” caused after the navigation manager removed the responsibility of ground services from Iberia at several airports and offered the contracts to other companies.
According to the union, many of the companies awarded the contracts have previously received complaints for not complying with the rights of workers, and it has accused Aena of putting savings ahead of “establishing a real, concrete and clear commitment” to staff.
In fact, UGT alleges that in the last seven years, the companies in question have been the subject of thousands of lawsuits, collective disputes and strike calls for breaching the labour agreement.
Furthermore, the union and workers have accused of Aena of failing to establish any kind of sanction mechanism for managers who fail to comply with their commitments.
The strikes will run on December 5 and 10, and the work stoppages will continue until those involved “assume their responsibilities.”
The industrial action will undoubtedly cause untold chaos, delays and possibly even flight cancellations in airports across Spain.
Image: Freepik
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