strike
AIRLINE NEWS
Union leaders for Iberia ground staff workers are expected to agree to a deal to end current strike actions. The proposals will slash 3,141 jobs but a higher level of compensation will be paid to laid off workers. (Travelmole.com, 3/12/13)
Virgin Atlantic, suffering from the triple threat of high fuel costs, increasing competition and global economic challenges, is estimated to have lost in 2012, a record $202 million. (Eturbonews.com, 3/10/13)
Boeing is ready to test changes made to its 787 Dreamliner, lithium-ion battery, believed to be the cause of two onboard fires in January. The carrier hopes to clear safety hurdles and get Dreamliners aloft again soon. (Travelmole.com, 3/13/13)
AIRLINE STRIKE IN SPAIN CONTINUES, PORTUGAL STRIKE PLANNED
Unions at Spain’s flagship airline Iberia began a second week of strikes on Monday, with 1,300 flights canceled and most passengers re-assigned to other flights. Cabin crews, pilots and ground staff are protesting Iberia’s plans for 3,800 layoffs, about 19 percent of the staff, and salary cuts for the remaining workers. A third week of strike is set to start on March 18. Meanwhile, employees of Portugal’s national airline TAP will go on strike on March 21-23, unions told the government on Monday, adding to growing protests against budget, pay and job cuts in the bailed out euro zone country. The TAP strike is also likely to exacerbate regional air transport problems caused by the intermittent stoppages at Spain’s Iberia. TAP operates around 180 daily flights. (eTurboNews, 3/4/2013)
IBERIA WORKERS STRIKE IN SPAIN
Violent clashes between protesting workers and police erupted at the Madrid airport as union workers at Spanish airline Iberia began a week-long strike action on Feb. 18. The unions are demonstrating against the carrier’s plan to slash close to 4000 jobs after substantial losses in 2012. Two more 5 day strikes are scheduled for March 4 to 8, and March 18 to 22. Hundreds of flights will be canceled across Spain and the strikes are expected to cost Iberia between 2 and 3 million euros a day. (Eturbonews.com, 2/18/13)
STRIKE SCHEDULE FOR SPANISH AIRLINE
Workers at the Spanish airline, Iberia, part of the International Airlines Group have agreed to strike on 6 days during the December holiday season to protest massive job cuts. Strikes will be held on December 14 and between December 17 and December 21. The carrier is attempting to become more competitive by downsizing. Other airlines may be affected due to connections. Please check for information and status online before going to the airport if your plans include Spain.
SPIRIT AIRLINES ATTENDANTS PLAN TO PICKET AIRPORTS FOR THANKSGIVING
Spirit Airlines Flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) will march on “informational picket lines” at four airports across the country November 19-21, as an estimated 24 million passengers travel during the busy Thanksgiving travel week. The four airports where picketing will occur are Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), and McCarran International Airport (LAS). In the event of a later strike, Spirit Flight Attendants would utilize AFA’s trademarked CHAOS tactics. CHAOS stands for Create Havoc Around Our System, which includes intermittent strikes called without warning to management or the traveling public. (TravelMole, 11/19/12)
DELTA CONNECTION FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AUTHORIZE STRIKE
Compass Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), have authorized a strike should negotiations with management fail to reach an agreement that can be ratified. The strike was authorized by an overwhelming 94 percent of participating flight attendants. Compass, a Delta Connection carrier headquartered in Minneapolis, runs 190 daily flights to over 50 Delta Air Lines destinations. (TravelMole.com, 10/15/12)
LUFTHANSA FLIGHTS CANCELLED BY STRIKE
Lufthansa cancelled hundreds more flights on Tuesday as its cabin crews launched a second round of strikes over pay and conditions that threatens to drag on for weeks and cost Germany’s biggest airline tens of millions of euros. The strike action in Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich follows a walkout last Friday that left 26,000 passengers stranded. On Tuesday morning Lufthansa cancelled over 300 flights, or more than one in six of its daily total, and has also scrapped some of its short-and medium-haul flights from Munich. Reuters, 9/4/12
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PROMISE CHAOS
Piedmont Airlines flight attendants, who serve U.S. Airways on about 400 daily departures from 55 eastern U.S. cities including Charlotte and Philadelphia, have promised to strike if management fails to negotiate a new agreement. Their union promises to “Create Havoc Around Our System” (CHAOS) if management fails to reach an agreement with them. Negotiations are currently deadlocked and the parties are in a 30-day cooling-off period. (TravelMole.com, Aug. 20)
STRIKES THREATEN FLIGHTS TO PORTUGAL AND FRANCE
EasyJet is urging passengers due to travel to Portugal and France later this week to check the status of their flights. Employee action is threatening to disrupt flights to and from both countries from Wednesday. Ground handling staff in Faro and Oporto are threatening to walk out on 15 and 17 August while easyJet pilots in France are planning action on 15, 17 and 19 August. EasyJet said it hopes any disruption in Portugal will be limited and said the French strikes would only impact French-based crews. A spokeswoman said the airline expects to operate its full flying program in France and will try to minimize the impact of the action on passengers. Passengers are advised to check easyJet’s website for updates. (TravelMole, August 13)
IBERIA AIRLINES PILOTS STRIKE SCHEDULE
 Pilots went on strike at Iberia Airlines, grounding 150 flights April 10, in protest of the carrier introducing the new low-cost brand, Iberia Express. The pilots say the new carrier could jeopardize their jobs and plan to strike on Mondays and Fridays from now until July. (TravelPulse.com, April 10). |
