Two indefinite strikes are set to disrupt operations at Barcelona-El Prat and Palma airports beginning on August 4th, with Spanish authorities estimating up to 2 million travellers could be affected during the peak summer season.
Ground staff at two of Spain’s busiest airports will take part in stoppages this August which are set to cause flight delays and baggage problems.
At Barcelona-El Prat Airport, leading Spanish trade union CGT has called an indefinite strike for 1,179 Groundforce employees who handle check-in, boarding, baggage, and flight coordination.
Groundforce serves major airlines like Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM.
The Spanish Ministry of Transport estimates the strike, scheduled to start on August 4th, could impact around 2 million passengers and 11,600 flights through September.
Minimum services will range from 35 percent to 80 percent.
Groundforce workers are protesting poor working conditions, citing physical fatigue, stress, excessive workloads, unpaid overtime, insufficient rest, and a lack of training for new hires.
Groundforce’s Spanish workforce has staged strikes previously at Spanish airports for similar reasons.
At Palma de Mallorca Airport, it’s the UGT trade union that has called an indefinite strike for nearly 600 Swissport workers, who provide ground handling services for airlines such as Condor, TUI Group, and Air Canada.
The stoppage will also begin on Tuesday August 4th, the same day as Barcelona Airport’s strike.
Employees are protesting job insecurity and demanding better hours for part-time staff, reduced overtime, two consecutive days off per week, hazard pay for stress and overload, and air conditioning in all company vehicles.
While the strikes involve different companies and unions, both are driven by demands for better working conditions, workloads, and health and safety measures.
The strike overlap threatens to cause significant delays, baggage issues, and check-in problems at two of Spain’s busiest holiday travel hubs.
