UGT and CCOO unions announced this Friday four days strike in handling Iberia (ground handling) January 5-8A call he described as “unfair” because the company had made an “ambitious” bid.
Last Wednesday, the facilities suspended the previously announced strike. Also extended until December 29-31– Continuing negotiations with the company with the participation of the Ministry of Transport, but no agreement was reached in this forum and they resumed the protest on January 5-8, as they announced in a statement.
The protest comes after Iberia lost service at the country’s eight main airports – Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South, Ibiza and Bilbao. Aena in September.
These forces Replacement of workers at each of the airports where Iberia will cease operations among companies that are winning everywhere (Globalia’s Groundforce, Aviapartners and Menzies).
unions They do not want this succession because it would mean leaving the Iberia umbrella. They want Iberia to ‘automatic transaction’ for all companies of the IAG group to which it belongs, along with British Airways, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level, even though they are covered by the sector agreement.
Iberia offered creating a “hybrid” model owned by an IAG Group companyAs explained in a note, it is “even exploring the possibility of this vehicle becoming 100% of the group at airports where it makes sense”, which would handle handling for all IAG airlines at eight airports.
The unions “do not accept this ‘joint venture’ without implementation of the existing Iberia agreement and with a new company that does not belong to Iberia.” Take responsibility for workers’ expenses“and ask a company 100% owned by Iberia to manage the ‘automatic administration’ for the IAG group.
Unions demand a sustainability plan for Iberia to run the business; Solutions for the eight affected airports where workers should be brought under the Iberia agreement and an agreed ERE if there is excess staff.
company bans ‘automatic use’ Because it has higher costs than contracting with third parties and will cause it to lose position against its competitors.
What’s really profitable Offering this service to more airline companies and gaining business volume Iberia, on the other hand, adds that it never provides its own services at the airports it operates in, and always prefers to contract with third parties.
It also notes that providing services for the whole of IAG would mean employees continuing to work at higher wage costs. those at lower levels will be transferred to companies that win the competitionsThis means giving them a competitive advantage.
The airline insists All jobs in ground handling services at eight airports are guaranteed by successionThus, in addition to ensuring agreed working conditions, there is no elimination of employment or direct elimination of jobs.
Iberia regrets that unions have ceased dialogue with the company and continue to call for “unfair” strikes. “They automatically withdraw” And “The only solution being considered is to grant succession to the companies that won the tender.”“.
The memo from the centers states that the representative of the Ministry of Transport proposed alternatives to create new negotiation channels and try to reach an agreement for airport employees affected by the loss of handling licenses.
Iberia’s airport services subsidiary It has 8,000 employees, 4,300 of whom will be affected through surrogacy and a large number of them (about 1,900) at Barcelona airport.