Britons heading to Spain face a summer of chaos as pilots consider strike action
Britons heading to Spain face a potential summer of chaos as pilots from a dozen airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, consider strike action
- The union of airline pilots in Spain is considering a strike this summer
- The union has pilot representation in airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet and Jet 2
BZippers departing for Spain this summer are facing major disruption as more than a dozen airlines consider strike action.
The Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla) is considering carrying out several strikes during the summer at all airlines represented by the union.
Currently, Sepla has union representation in Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling, Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, Swiftair, Plus Ultra, Jet 2, Eurowings and Evelop.
The union says it is very unhappy that on the current strike days of Air Nostrum and Air Europa, Spanish law prescribes a minimum of 90 percent of the standard, which reduces the impact of the action. This means that of the approximately 80 scheduled flights per day that airlines have, only about 18-20 flights are cancelled.
The strike option was announced by Sepla Secretary General Javier Fernández-Picazo at a press conference today, explaining that the measure is “on the table” but there is still no decision.
Britons face major disruption as more than a dozen airlines consider strike action. Pictured: Holidaymakers crowd Levante beach in Benidorm on April 8, 2023
The union is represented on airlines including Ryanair, easyJet and Jet 2. Pictured: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Barcelona Airport, February 21, 2022
“It would be a decision to be assessed and negotiated,” he stressed.
Sepla also hopes to involve other groups within the aviation sector, such as cabin crew (TCP) and air traffic controllers, or even those from the road transport industry.
Mr Fernández-Picazo said the minimum service regulation meant airlines felt no pressure to enter into negotiations.
Sepla says it interferes with the ‘constitutional right to strike’.
“There are about 14 National Court judgments or resolutions asking the government not to violate and to respect workers’ fundamental right to strike,” said Mr. Fernández-Picazo.
Manuel Reyes, Sepla’s chief deputy in Air Nostrum, said it was “unthinkable” that “the government would allow the company to hide behind abusive minimum services and thus avoid reaching a consensus.”
And Sepla’s chief deputy at Air Europa, Carlos Sánchez, warned that the action by pilots “will not stop” and foresees further strikes this summer “if the airline’s management continues to refuse to listen to workers’ wage and labor demands.”
People enjoy the sunny weather at Illetes beach, in the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain April 6, 2023
On May 8, Sepla announced the call for eight new strike days at Air Europa for May 22, 23, 25, 26, 29 and 30 and June 1 and 2 at all bases and work centers in Spain. Previously, strikes were already held on the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th of this month.
This Friday’s call was led by the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla), the Union of Workers Union (USO), the Union of Airline Passengers Cabin Crew (Sitcpla) and the Spanish Union of Airline Maintenance Technicians (Asetma).