Possible Ground Handler strike would shut down all Spanish airports

Travellers in Spain could face yet more disruptions to their plans following a dispute over working conditions between ground support service unions and AENA.

If last-ditch talks fail, 60,000 ground support staff could strike starting October 15th. A strike of this magnitude would shut down all of Spain’s commercial airports.

Ground support staff handles baggage, freight, food delivery and even help passengers with reduced mobility.

Unions say they have been locked in negotiations with the airport operators for three years and have accused the Association of Airport Ground Support Services Companies, of dragging their feet over confirming their latest collective agreement.

When describing the current situation USO Aéreo said: “We cannot allow more companies to continue operating in our labour market with wild deals, using precarious contracts and workers’ salaries.”

They went on to say: “USO Sector Aéreo, along with other unions, have registered with the Interconfederal Service of Mediation and Arbitration (SIMA) the request for conciliation prior to the strike call for ground handling services at airports. This demand is prior to the call for a strike that, if no agreement is reached, will begin as of October 15. Approximately 60,000 workers are summoned to this strike in all airports of the AENA network.

UPDATE: The strike has been called off as of 12:00 Friday, October 5th 2018.