Iberia ground staff make U-turn and keep strikes for this weekend

Vueling has already cancelled 92 flights, with 14,000 affected

Meetings at Iberia headquarters will continue to resolve the conflict (Andrea Zamorano)
Meetings at Iberia headquarters will continue to resolve the conflict (Andrea Zamorano) / Oliver Little

Oliver Little | Barcelona

August 28, 2019 04:36 PM

More bad news from Iberia ground staff at Barcelona-El Prat airport as they have reversed their intentions and will again go on strike on August 30 and August 31. This comes after they had claimed that they were calling off strikes as a "demonstration of responsibility." 

The employees made the U-turn hours later, arguing that their employer has in the end rejected setting up a monitoring committee. 

Following another meeting this morning at the Department of Labor, the strike committee had agreed to commit to "the direction of Iberia, which will improve employment conditions for the staff at Barcelona-El Prat airport." Ground staff had expressed concerns regarding an increased workload over the summer season.

The strike committee had stated that, as a "demonstration of responsibility" they were calling off the strikes and instead offering a “truce” with Iberia to put an end to the conflict. However, this appears to no longer be the case.

Ground staff representatives and Iberia management will continue to meet at their headquarters, but the strike on Friday and Saturday seems now inevitable. 

So far, Vueling has already cancelled 92 flights - 54 on Friday and 38 on Saturday. 14,000 passengers will be affected, to whom Vueling has recommended that they avoid Barcelona-El Prat airport.

 

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