After the last attempt at negotiation between the company and the unions failed yesterday, the four-day strike begins today, January 5, 6, 7 and 8, in the handling service (ground assistance) that will affect the group. Iberia.
It is the third strike call after the Aena contest in which Iberia lost the handling service in most of the large Spanish airports. The first two strikes, scheduled for the December long weekend and the beginning of Christmas, were called off to allow negotiations to continue. But, the talks did not come to fruition and the strike is carried out, fully affecting the Three Kings weekend, and the return of the Christmas holidays.
The keys to the origin of the conflict and how it will affect passengers are the following.
The strike begins today and will last on January 6, 7 and 8, which has forced the company to cancel 444 flights, affecting 45,000 passengers. More than 90% of these passengers have been accommodated on other flights, dates or times (80%), or have received a refund for their tickets (10%). The stoppages directly affect the "handling" (ground assistance service) of the 29 airports where Iberia provides this service, among which are those with the highest traffic such as Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife North and South, Ibiza, Seville, Valencia and Bilbao.
Although the majority have already been rearranged, the 10% who have not yet done so can request changes through the Iberia website, the travel agencies where they have made the purchase or the company's customer service. This service has been reinforced, although Iberia recognizes that the waiting time may be longer than usual. The telephone number to call from Spain is 900 111 500. The numbers to be answered from outside Spain can be consulted on the Iberia website.
The list of canceled flights can be consulted on the Iberia website. The company will operate almost all long-haul flights. Iberia maintains 836 flights, 76% of the total 1,106 scheduled. Among those that it plans to operate are practically all long-haul companies, including those of Level. Of the 270 Iberia flight cancellations, half are domestic and the other half European. For its part, Iberia Express will operate 88% of its flights and Air Nostrum 72%.
The main affected are the flights of Iberia and the IAG group (British Airways, Vueling, Air Nostrum, Level and Air Lingus), and it may also complicate the operation of other companies that Iberia Airport Services provides services to.
That they check-in in advance through the website and that they arrive at the airport earlier than usual.
It all comes from the awarding of the "handling" tender by Aena across its entire airport network last September, in which Iberia lost the large airports where it was present, except for Madrid. In this way, Iberia workers will become part of the staff of the new concessionaires, which has raised their fear that, with the change, there will be a loss of working conditions or even jobs. The unions ask that Iberia do "autohandling", that it provide itself with ground handling services at airports where it has not been able to provide the service.
The company argues that under these conditions, "autohandling" entails high costs, with no room to be competitive. Furthermore, it considers the strike unjustified because "all jobs, as well as salary conditions and social benefits, are guaranteed by the V Sector Agreement in all subrogation processes." "There is neither destruction of employment nor elimination of jobs," says the company, which ensures that the conditions remain intact with subrogation. In addition, it adds that these workers are also guaranteed the salary review established in the operator or sector agreements, the acquired rights over the use of airline tickets and pension plans, according to Iberia.
