2023-12-22 20:45:49
The unions resume the strike that they had put on hold in Iberia due to the resolution of the Aena airport handling tender. CC OO and UGT have announced today the call for four days of mobilizations for January 5, 6, 7 and 8 after the failure of the meeting held at the airline’s headquarters between the unions, the company’s management and representatives of the Ministry of Transportation.
According to a statement issued by Iberia, after a first meeting held with the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the unions have refused to continue with talks to find an alternative way to autohandling requested by UGT and CC OO to guarantee the rights of workers after the loss by the airline of this service in eight of the main Spanish airports. The first strike call, on December 13, affected operations on December 29, 30 and 31 and January 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7, but was aborted after the parties reached a commitment to continue. negotiations that, in the end, have not been fruitful.
“Despite the fact that all rights are guaranteed, that no Iberia worker loses a single one of their acquired salary or extra-salary rights, the company has put on the table a proposal consisting of the creation of a hybrid model participated by a company of the IAG Group, even exploring the possibility of this vehicle being 100% owned by the IAG group in the airports where it made sense, which would carry out handling for all IAG airlines in the eight airports in which the company lost the license after the competition of Aena’s ground services and that would preserve the competitive position of the business. This proposal has been rejected by the unions,” says the airline. Iberia considers that it has “made an ambitious offer that would serve to further strengthen the rights of workers, which the V Convention of the sector already guarantees for life.”
“Following the strike call confirmed today, and as already anticipated to the unions themselves and the other interlocutors involved, the proposals made by the company are automatically withdrawn. The only solution contemplated is subrogation to the companies awarded the tender of Aena. Iberia, of course, will facilitate this subrogation process and will ensure that all legally established guarantees are one hundred percent respected,” says Iberia.
“Important impact” on Iberia’s accounts
Iberia reiterates its resounding call to call off the strike. “The company is not going to carry out autohandling due to the significant impact it would have on its accounts and, especially, due to the notable loss of competitiveness in favor of the airlines that would serve the companies awarded the Aena tender. Autohandling at the eight airports would deal a definitive blow to the future of the ground service business,” he explained again today.
The airline reminds that the unions calling for this “unjustified” strike have demonstrated in the past against autohandling, as well as all the handling employers’ companies, represented in Aseata. “In recent decades, always and without exception, there have been subrogations between companies guaranteeing employment. It is not understandable that the opposite is now requested for the Iberia company,” he says.
For Iberia, “a strike in the middle of the Three Kings holiday will only cause enormous damage, especially to thousands of travelers who choose those dates to enjoy with their families. Calling a strike during these Christmas dates, which would affect more than 90 airlines, would be against the rights of passengers and will not contribute to improving the working conditions of subrogated employees in any way. For this reason, Iberia reiterates its call to the unions to return to the path of responsibility.
Unions prefer an ERE
This same week, UGT and CCOO had decided to postpone the strike call after the Government’s offer to mediate the conflict. Thus, this Wednesday, both unions held a series of conversations with the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to seek a solution. Now, the unions claim that during that week’s meeting at Iberia headquarters the company carried out an exercise in “trilerism and sleight of hand.”
The unions are demanding that the company guarantee a viability plan for the handling business, a solution for the eight airports affected, and that in the event of surplus staff that represents an extra cost to the new operation, that it carry out a “express agreed separation agreement” (ERE). They assure that the “opportunistic” attitude of the company’s management leaves them no other way than to call for mobilizations from January 5 to 8, reiterating that “irresponsibility is once again the company’s responsibility,” reports Ep.
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