Iberia, UGT and CCOO continue talks on ground handling amid ongoing strike impact
Iberia is once again in talks with the UGT and CCOO unions to shape the future of its ground handling and transport operations. Negotiations extend into a third day, following a four-day sector-wide strike that began in the first weekend of January and affected the airline’s operations across multiple hubs in Spain and beyond.
During the day, UGT reported that discussions with the company continued with an openness to explore alternatives, and they planned to resume talks the next day. Iberia echoed the sentiment, confirming that negotiations would persist as scheduled, underscoring a shared interest in avoiding disruption while safeguarding the workforce and operations.
Iberia targets performance metrics while unions press for regional automatic processing
The unions in focus advocate for automatic processing across the entire Iberia and IAG Group network, which includes Iberia, Vueling, British Airways, and Level. The airline, however, argues that such centralized processing could hamper efficiency and that it is more cost-effective to rely on the providers selected through the airport operator competition won by other partners. Iberia notes that its strategy aligns with both operational efficiency and the competitive landscape, especially after losing certain airport contracts in the adapted framework of the competition overseen by Aena.
Iberia emphasized that any negotiation must keep transport operations and the workers safe, stressing that the jobs and social rights of those affected are protected by the collective agreement governing the ground handling sector. The airline expressed willingness to discuss issues as long as the core operational and safety concerns remain intact.
Context of the pause in activity
Following the January strike window from the 5th through the 8th, negotiations resumed after the holiday break. The disruption had a noticeable ripple effect on travelers, with more than 40,000 passengers affected and Iberia forced to preemptively cancel 444 flights. The carrier reported that the majority of issues were resolved promptly, though delays in baggage handling persisted in some locations.
The strike action was organized by UGT and CCOO, occurring concurrently with separate calls for autonomy from USO on the same days. The backdrop was a struggle to stabilize service across major Spanish airports, excluding Madrid, as the airline sought to replace some workers with those employed by the winning bidders in the competitive process overseen by airport authorities.
On the days of disruption, the most pronounced challenges appeared in baggage delivery at three of Iberia’s key gateways: Barcelona, Bilbao, and Gran Canaria. Throughout the four-day ground handling strike, punctuality hovered above 80 percent, attendance at demonstrations stayed under 20 percent, and overall regularity reached full compliance. The airline reported that external flight cancellations were limited to the 444 delayed services attributed to the strike period.
These developments reflect a broader conversation about staffing, efficiency, and the balance between union demands and operational realities in a high-stakes, highly interconnected travel ecosystem. The industry continues to watch how negotiations evolve as both sides seek a sustainable resolution that protects workers while preserving service quality for passengers across a sprawling network.