Barcelona airport security workers do not think mediation efforts will prevent strike

Indefinite protest set to start on August 10

Barcelona airport security workers arriving at the site of the meeting with I-SEC representatives to discuss the planned strike
Barcelona airport security workers arriving at the site of the meeting with I-SEC representatives to discuss the planned strike / Maria Pratdesaba
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

August 7, 2023 01:09 PM

August 7, 2023 01:35 PM

Barcelona airport security workers stated on Monday morning that they did not believe the mediation efforts overseen by the Catalan government would be enough to prevent the indefinite strike set to begin on August 10 from taking place.

"They aren't proposing any tangible or immediate improvements," union leader Genoveva Sierra told the Catalan News Agency (ACN). "Everything is four years from now."

I-SEC employees have accused the company of abuse of authority and "breaking agreements." According to workers, the company does not allow them to take the 10-minute break they are entitled to every hour and does not adopt family-friendly policies.  

They also say the company has been engaging in "anti-union" behavior.

"They've sent all of the workers letters telling them not to join the union," Sierra said. 

Workers are also calling on the company to either pay for their parking costs or to create a free parking area for them. 

They also want €50 monthly bonuses for guards that speak several languages and to have two weekends off per month. 

Minimum services have been set at 90% because of the terror alert, meaning staff will only stop working from 4 am to 7 am, from 9 am to 11 am, and from 4 pm to 8 pm.

The summer holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year at the airport as thousands of flights take off on a daily basis.