Passengers of Easyjet and Ryanair airlines are facing a new series of cabin crew strikes at Spanish bases this week. This brings to a close a month marked by labour unrest at both companies.
At Ryanair, the unions USO and Sitcpla have declared a further four days of strike, starting next Monday and lasting until Thursday 28 July.
The four days of strike action last week had little impact on the airline’s operations. This was because less than a dozen flights were cancelled. In this regard, USO denounced that most of the flights were operated by crews from outside Spain.
Crew from abroad
According to the union, Ryanair calls on Portuguese or Italian crew members to operate the flights. This is so they are not cancelled because these crew members, who are not Spaniards, cannot go on strike.
This appears to be a new, almost general practice applied by Ryanair at Spanish bases. But, particularly at El Prat and Malaga, where staff almost entirely supported the strike. In addition, 9 flight attendants have been made redundant since the strikes began.
Back to the negotiating table
The organisers of the actions are calling on the airline to change its attitude and return to the negotiation of a collective agreement. This should include decent working conditions for its workers under Spanish law.
Therefore, USO and Sitcpla demand that the government, and in particular the Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Diaz, does not allow Ryanair to violate labour laws and constitutional rights such as the right to strike, and take action against a company that does not abide by court rulings, does not comply with the law and uses fear, coercion and threats against its workers. Ryanair has already had 14 days of strike action this summer, with over 250 flights to and from Spain cancelled, according to the USO.
Easyjet
On the other hand, the USO has called Easyjet cabin crew to three days of strike starting on Friday 29 July and ending on Sunday 31 July at Easyjet’s bases in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Málaga. This airline has already had six days of strike action, during which more than fifty flights were cancelled.
