“MASSIVE New Year Airport Chaos Looms: Iberia Ground Service Workers Set to STRIKE, Affecting Travel Plans Across Spanish Airports!”
MADRID, Dec 14 (Reuters) – STRIKE Ground service worker unions at Iberia, owned by International Airlines Group (ICAG.L), announced on Thursday their intention to stage a strike during the New Year period at Spanish airports.
The country’s primary unions, UGT and CCOO, are planning a walkout from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1 and from Jan. 4-7. However, official documentation for the strike has not been submitted yet, according to a spokesperson for UGT.
STRIKE
Ground service workers, including baggage handlers, at Spanish commercial airports operated by state-controlled Aena (AENA.MC), are protesting against contracts entered into with new providers in September.
Counter staff and other colleagues, unaffected by the new contracts, will also join the strike, the spokesperson noted.
Aena hired new contractors to take over services that were previously handled by Iberia at numerous airports, leading to union discontent, despite assurances from the new suppliers to maintain workers and their existing working conditions.
The strike is expected to impact other airlines as well.
Iberia, disputing the new contracts in administrative courts, criticized the in a statement on Wednesday, deeming it “irresponsible” and “without merit.”
