Following unsuccessful negotiations, labor unions representing employees of Swissport, the airport handling company, have announced a sequence of 24-hour strikes.
The strike will impact 17 airports in Spain, which are frequented by many British tourists. These airports include Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Reus, Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga, Almería, Salamanca, Valladolid, Burgos, Logroño, Zaragoza, Huesca, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife Sur.
Swissport provides passenger and ramp assistance services, with the exception of Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur airports, where it offers support to executive aviation firms. Additionally, Swissport provides air cargo handling services at Madrid and Malaga airports.
“This is the reality faced by the workers of Swissport Handling and for which it has been decided to say enough,” said a union spokesman. “We will not allow workers to have to give up the improvements they have been waiting for for years.”
The company’s clients include Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Czech Airlines, Emirates, Finnair, Iberia Express, Icelandair, Iran Air, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, and Vueling.
Commencing on February 27th, the upcoming strike will occur every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday until April 13th. The labor union behind the strike has been advocating for improved working conditions for over eight years, without any favorable outcomes.
As a result of the ongoing negotiations impasse, the workers’ union representing Swissport airport handlers has decided to hold these 24-hour strikes. The walkouts are expected to cause significant disruptions at 17 airports in Spain, which are popular with British travelers.
The union’s demands have yet to be met, despite their longstanding efforts to improve their working conditions. Swissport provides essential services such as passenger and ramp assistance to multiple airlines, including Aegean Airlines, Air France, Emirates, and Lufthansa. Swissport also offers support to executive aviation firms at two airports and air cargo handling services at two other locations.
