Barcelona’s El Prat Airport faced considerable disruptions on Tuesday August 4th as an indefinite strike by ground handling staff began, with Spanish authorities estimating two million passengers could be affected this summer.
A total of 1,179 employees of the company Groundforce, who are responsible for passenger check-in and boarding, and flight coordination for numerous airlines at Barcelona’s main airport, took part in the first day of the stoppage.
Due to staff shortages, Spain’s second busiest airport has been forced to cancel several flights.
According to the CGT union, who called the strike for Groundforce staff, the walkout has resulted in the cancellation of 16 flights, both arrivals and departures.
Media outlets have reported at least 20 flights being cancelled on Tuesday morning.
The Spanish Ministry of Transport has previously warned that approximately two million passengers could be affected by the stoppage, based on occupancy figures projected for this summer.
The walkout is also causing longer queues for check-in, boarding, and baggage claim, as well as general delays.
In response to the situation, the Ministry of Transport has agreed to guarantee minimum services.
Specifically, it will guarantee 80 percent of flights between the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla during August.
For flights between Spanish cities and international destinations, as well as between cities on the Iberian Peninsula when alternative public transport takes more than five hours, the minimum service will be 58 percent.
For domestic flights with an alternative transport option of less than five hours, the services will be reduced to 35 percent.
READ ALSO: One of Spain’s two airport strikes in August called off at last minute
Passengers are being advised to check with their airlines ahead of time to ensure their flight is running or to see if there have been any schedule changes. It’s also advisable to arrive earlier than usual as the strikes may cause several delays.
If your flight has been cancelled, you have the right to choose between a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination. While waiting for your new flight, the airline must provide assistance, as well as food and drink. If your new flight departs the following day or later, accommodation and transportation between the airport and the hotel must also be provided.
Some passengers may also be entitled to financial compensation when a cancellation or delay is due to the strike.
The CGT union says workers are denouncing the “serious deterioration” of occupational health and safety conditions.
Their spokesperson, Esther García, stated that they are waiting for the company to agree to talks, but for now they are continuing to protest a situation “where the workforce can no longer endure it,” also blaming excessive workloads and a lack of training for new employees.
Workers also cite poor working conditions, physical fatigue, stress, unpaid overtime and insufficient rest periods.
Groundforce employees serve international and domestic airlines operating in both terminals of Barcelona airport, including Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, SAS, Air Arabia, Turkish Airlines, ITA Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, United Airlines, Finnair, Asiana Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Air China, Air Transat and Luxair.
Groundforce also provides services at Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Palma, Ibiza, Málaga, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Bilbao airports, but so far this strike is only affecting Barcelona airport.
Back in March of this year the CCOO, UGT and USO unions also called for an indefinite strike for Groundforce employees for similar reasons.
Another stoppage organised by Swissport workers, scheduled at Palma Airport in Mallorca this summer, was recently called off at the last minute.
