PALMA, 15 (EUROPA PRESS)
The first day of the handling strikes is proceeding normally at the Balearic Islands' airports.
This was reported to Europa Press by Aena sources at the start of one of two strikes by handling staff at Spanish airports called by the UGT (Union of Workers' Unions). These strikes coincide with one of the biggest "exit operations" of the year during this August long weekend, when more than 28,000 flights are scheduled.
The Balearic Islands' airports will operate a total of 1,556 flights this Friday, the first day of the August Virgin long weekend, while over the entire August Virgin long weekend, the archipelago's airfields will operate 6,381 flights, 5.1% fewer than in 2024.
The first begins this Friday and is aimed at employees of Azul Handling, Ryanair's ground handling company, and will run until the end of the year.
The UGT (United Workers' Union) has called on workers at Azul Handling in Spain—which provides services to Ryanair, Lauda, Malta Air, and Buzz—to strike as a result of the "constant violations of labor rights" with which the Ryanair group "punishes its workforce."
The first three days (August 15, 16, and 17) of the strike will be held between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and between 9:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. Thereafter, the strike will be open to all Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until December 31, 2025.
However, Ryanair has assured that it "does not anticipate any disruption to its operations" as a result of these stoppages.
STRIKE IN MENZEIS
Meanwhile, the strike at Menzeis, which serves airlines such as easyJet, Emirates, American Airlines, and British Airways, begins on Saturday. It is scheduled to run from August 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31 at all Spanish airports where it operates.
The UGT (United Workers' Union) points out that this strike is due to the company's failure to comply with the agreement ratified at the SIMA (Mexican Workers' Union) in November of last year, as the company is not implementing the commitments it made.
Furthermore, they believe the company is violating the sector-wide handling agreement and that there is "operational disorganization, lack of employment, and poor human resources," which "makes it impossible to resolve daily complaints."
Groundforce workers, Globalia's handling company, have not yet called a strike, but they did gather in Palma last week to demand better working conditions and threatened to strike if the company does not meet their demands.
