ITF affiliates across Spain continue to strike despite anti-union behaviour by employers Swissport. With strike action taking place at eight airports across Spain on several dates over June and July, it is reported that Swissport is replacing striking workers with temporary staff.
The strike was originally called following the breakdown in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, when unions and employers were unable to reach an agreement about acceptable minimum standards. According to a joint press release from the Confederacion Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), and the Union Sindical Obrera (USO), Swissport has been attempting to replace striking workers with temporary staff, threatening workers who are on strike, and forcing administrative staff to undertake manual handling work. The press release also alleges that Swissport are cutting corners to keep services running, which may affect passenger safety.
Gabriel Mocho Rodriguez, secretary for civil aviation and tourism services at the ITF, said: “It is disheartening that Swissport have not been able to come to an agreement with their workers on minimum acceptable workplace standards. Reports of subsequent attempts to undermine the workers’ basic right to strike are even more disappointing – particularly if those attempts may pose a threat to passenger safety”.
You can find out more about the strike, including the joint CCOO-UGT-USO press release, at CCOO’s website http://www.fs.ccoo.es