LUGGAGE-HANDLING STAFF STAGE SEPTEMBER STRIKES
LUGGAGE-HANDLERS are planning strikes at some of Spain’s most heavily-frequented air terminals next month as union talks with company bosses over staff pay hit a stalemate. Menzies Aviation Ibérica confirms slots of between two and four hours in the morning and at night in five airports will see baggage-handling workers down tools.
The first of these is in the capital at Adolfo Suárez-Barajas airport, starting on Friday, September 4 – the same day when RENFE rail drivers are planning to strike – and then every Friday in September from 04.30hrs for three hours and again for two hours from 19.30hrs.
Next up is Málaga, with the four-hour period until noon and from 18.00hrs to 21.00hrs hit every Saturday in September, and every Sunday between 08.00hrs and 11.00hrs and then the same times 12 hours later.
Luggage-carriers at Barcelona’s El Prat airport will strike between 10.00hrs and noon and then again from 18.00hrs to 20.00hrs every Sunday and Monday in September.
Finally, Palma de Mallorca and Alicante-Elche airports will see baggage-handlers on strike for four hours from 10.00hrs and then another four from 16.00hrs – practically a whole working day – every Monday and Wednesday in September.
Although Spanish law requires minimum services to be guaranteed during strikes, this still falls short of the normal workload and is likely to mean delays – if not with flights, then at least with suitcases coming off the carousel after landing.
Several low-cost airlines flying from one or more of these terminals in Spain to the UK and Ireland will be affected by the strike, including Monarch, Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, Vueling and BMI Baby.
source: www.thinkspain.com
