Ryanair, Vueling and Air Nostrum have scheduled strikes in Spain over the coming days, resulting in distruptions for travelers during their Christmas vacations.
In the case of Ryanair, the USO and Sitcpla unions, which represent the airline’s cabin crew, called for a new strike from August 8th until January 7th, 2023, both inclusive.
The strike consists of 24-hour stoppages, Monday through Thursday every week. The unions pointed out that Ryanair has not shown “the slightest attempt at reconciliation”, and has publicly stated its refusal to engage in any dialogue with the elected representatives of its crew members.
In addition, the unions warned of a series of worker layoffs after the two previous calls to strike.
Also, Sepla announced last week the call to strike by the Air Nostrum technical flight crew collective (pilots) at all its bases and work centers for december 22nd, 23rd, 26th, 27th, 29th and 30th and January 2nd and 3rd.
The reason is a “deadlock” in the negotiations for their collective bargaining agreement. As the union explained, Air Nostrum insisted on offering a “3% wage revision for 2023 to 2025, maintaining its refusal to even compensate for the increase in the cost of living suffered by workers in 2022.”
For its part, Air Nostrum said on Wednesday that it already offered a wage increase within the framework of SIMA for the next three years consisting of 10% for commanders and 13% for second pilots. In addition, it indicated that this increase could be even higher depending on the results of objectives that are also being negotiated.
Strikes at Vueling
On the other hand, the Stavla union called Vueling cabin crew members to participate in the strikes called for every Friday, Sunday, Monday and public holiday between November 1st and January 31st, as well as public holidays and on December 24th and 31st and January 5th to demand a 13.4% wage increase by 2022
Vueling’s president, Marco Sansavini, described the wage increases demanded by the company’s Cabin Crew Members (TCP) as unfeasible and has called for further dialogue.
Despite the strike, the airline “guarantees all its operations during the Christmas period”“, between December 19th and January 8th, and anticipates that “all flights already scheduled and on sale will operate as planned” and added that those flights that could be affected by the stoppage have been cancelled as a precautionary measure
Strike by security workers at screening points
In addition to airlines, strikes also affect Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas airport. Sagital’s ‘fast track’ screening guards have called a strike, as reported by the ATES union.
Specifically, the surveillance and auxiliary services companies, Segurisa and Sagital, began the strike of the VIP and ‘fast track’ screening areas on Thursday to demand social and labor improvements for the workers. However, Sagital has received a motion from a Madrid court suspending its union activity this Friday.
In addition, the strike was initially called also for the normal screening companies, Trablisa and Visabren, but two Madrid courts issued precautionary measures to suspend these stoppages.
How to claim compensation?
Under European Union air passenger rights, if a flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund of the ticket, re-routing or a return trip, as well as assistance and compensation.
You are entitled to compensation if you are informed less than fourteen days before the scheduled departure date. The airline has to prove that it has personally informed you of the cancellation and when it did so. Otherwise, you can contact your national administration for assistance.
To make a claim, you can go to the airline’s counter at the airports. Depending on the country, there is a specific time limit for filing a complaint and claiming compensation.
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