Spain holiday warning as new strikes risk cancelling hundreds of flights – see if yours might be affected
BRITS flying to Spain this summer are facing significant disruption as more than a dozen airlines consider strike action.
All of the airlines represented Spanish Association of Flight Pilots (Sepla) are considering holding various strikes during the summer months.
2
Sepla currently represents pilots at Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, Swiftair, Plus Ultra, Jet 2, Eurowings and Evelop.
The union is unhappy that on the current days of Air Nostrum and Air Europa strikes, Spanish legislation requires at least 90 per cent of staff to be at work to minimize the impact of their action.
This means that out of around 80 daily scheduled flights, only around 18 to 20 will be cancelled.
The possibility of a strike was announced by Sepla’s general secretary, Javier Fernández-Picazo, at a press conference on Friday, where he stated that the measure was “on the table”.
However, the union has not yet made a final decision.
He said: “It would be a decision to be evaluated and negotiated.”
Sepla also hopes to involve other groups within the aviation sector, such as cabin crew (TCP) and air traffic controllers, or even those involved in road transport.
Mr Fernández-Picazo said the minimum service rule meant airlines felt no pressure to start negotiations with their employees.
Sepla claims it interferes with the “constitutional right to strike”.
Mr. Fernández-Picazo added: “There are about 14 judgments or orders of the National Court calling on the administration not to violate and to respect the fundamental right of workers to strike.”
Sepla’s chief delegate at Air Nostrum, Manuel Reyes, said it was “inconceivable” that “the government would allow the company to hide behind abusive minimum services and thus avoid consensus.”
And the chief delegate of Sepla at Air Europa, Carlos Sánchez, warned that the action of the pilots “will not stop” and expects new strikes this summer, “if the management of the airline continues to refuse to pay and work demands of workers”.
On May 8th, Sepla announced the call for eight new strike days at Air Europa on May 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 29th and 30th and June 1st and 2nd at all bases and work centers in Spain.
Previously, there were strikes on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th of this month.
They’re not the only strikes that could cause problems for travelers this summer.
Passport office staff have already done workouts this year, but more may follow.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union – the UK’s largest public sector union – has voted to continue strikes this year.
Although no dates have yet been set for future work stoppages, the outcome of the vote raises the likelihood of another disruption to passport renewals.
Passport office staff PCS members who voted for further industrial action include the Ministry of the Interior and the DVLA.
Almost 1,800 employees in the office staged the strikes this started last month.
There will also be more strikes at Heathrow Airport this month.
About 1,400 Security personnel at the airport staged an eight-day industrial dispute earlier this year and is planning more over a wage dispute.
Signs have been posted in airport terminals warning: “There may be security delays due to industrial action.”
Security personnel will conduct further strikes on May 25th and 27th.
In the meantime, Here’s how much you’re entitled to for canceled or delayed flights – and what to do if the airline doesn’t pay.
And they are the two flights You should book to avoid airport delays.
2