Spain holiday warning as new strikes risk cancelling hundreds of flights – see if yours might be affected
BRITS heading for Spain this summer are facing major disruption as more than a dozen airlines consider strike action.
All of the airlines represented by the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla) are considering carrying out different strikes during the summer months.
Currently, Sepla 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 current strike days called by Air Nostrum and Air Europa, Spanish legislation calls for a minimum of 90 per cent of staff to be working, minimising the impact of their action.
This means that of about 80 daily scheduled flights, only about 18-20 of them are cancelled.
The possibility of strike action was announced by the Secretary General of Sepla, Javier Fernández-Picazo, at a press conference on Friday, in which he explained that the measure “is on the table”
However, no definitive decision has yet been made by the union.
He said: “It would be a decision that must be assessed and negotiated.”
Sepla is also hoping to involve other groups within the aviation sector, such as cabin crew (TCP) and air traffic controllers, or even those of road transport.
Mr. Fernández-Picazo said the minimum service regulation meant airlines didn’t feel any pressure to enter into negotiations with their staff.
Sepla claims it is interfering with the “constitutional right to strike”.
Mr. Fernández-Picazo added: “There are some 14 judgments or resolutions of the National Court that ask the administration not to violate the fundamental right of workers to strike and to respect it.”
Chief delegate of Sepla in Air Nostrum, Manuel Reyes said it was “inconceivable” that “the Government allows the company to hide behind abusive minimum services and thus avoid reaching a consensus.”
And chief delegate of Sepla at Air Europa, Carlos Sánchez warned the action of pilots “will not stop” and foresees new strikes this summer “if the management of the airline continues to refuse to listen to the salary and labour claims of the workers.”
On May 8, Sepla announced the call for eight new strike days at Air Europa for May 22, 23, 25, 26, 29 and 30, as well as June 1 and 2 at all bases and work centres in Spain.
Previously, strikes were already held on the 1, 2, 4 and 5 of this month.
They aren’t the only strikes threatening to cause problems for travellers this summer either.
Passport office workers have already staged workouts this year, but more could follow.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) – the biggest civil service union in the UK – has voted in favour of further strikes this year.
While no dates have been planned for future walkouts yet, the result of the vote increases the chance of further disruption to passport renewals.
Passport office workers are included in PCS members who have voted in favour of further industrial action, as well as the Home Office and DVLA.
Nearly 1,800 staff members at the office staged the walkouts that started last month.
There are also more strikes set to go ahead at Heathrow airport this month.
Around 1,400 airport security staff staged eight days of industrial action earlier this year and have plans for more over a pay dispute.
Signs were put up in the airport terminals, warning: “There may be some security delays due to industrial action.”
The security staff will stage further walkouts on 25–27 May.
Meanwhile, here’s how much you’re owed for cancelled or delayed flights – and what to do if airlines won’t pay up.
And these are the two flights you should book to avoid airport delays.