EasyJet cabin crew to strike in August
The three-day strike is planned for August 15-17 - covering a national holiday and one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Portugal’s National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) has called a three-day strike by cabin crew at easyJet between August 15-17.
The strike will start at one minute past midnight on August 15 and end at midnight on August 17, for ‘all flights operated by easyJet, as well as for other services to which cabin crew are assigned’ in Portugal.
The union believes minimum services should not be decreed for this strike. Citing the legislation, the union understands that, “in line with what has been happening whenever there is a strike declared in the air transport sector, the concept of imperative needs is only confined to the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, for reasons of national cohesion and isolation of the populations for whom this means of transport is essential; now, because such destinations are operated by other airlines and given the nature and other routes operated by easyJet, we consider that there are no minimum services to be provided”.
According to the strike notice sent by the union to the Ministry of Labour and to easyJet, the SNPVAC cites ‘dissatisfaction with the continuous and increasingly accentuated disrespect for their professional dignity’ and the ‘numerous attempts made by easyJet cabin crew to resolve labour and pecuniary issues’, which they say have been ‘ignored by the company’.
The Union accuses the company of ‘lack of roster stability’, ‘discriminatory treatment of the pilot class in the compensation given for summer disruption’, ‘successive errors in the processing of salaries’, ‘lack of resources to make up for operational shortcomings in roster planning and service’.
The union also highlights problems with the ‘illegal calculation of Christmas bonuses in intermittent work contracts’, ‘staff shortages in all relevant departments’ and ‘accommodation and transport shortages’.
The strike was approved at a general meeting, with 99% of votes in favour.
Easyjet wants to ‘minimize impact’ on passengers
In a written comment, Easyjet said that, ‘should the strike go ahead’, it will do ‘everything possible to minimise the impact’ on passengers. ‘All customers on affected flights will be contacted directly via SMS, and any customer affected by cancellations will be entitled to a refund or a free change to a new flight,’ the airline said.
‘We are extremely disappointed by this unnecessary strike action, especially at this important time of year, as we have already put forward solutions to address all the concerns raised by the union,’ Easyjet said in reaction to the strike announcement.
‘All airlines in Europe have been affected by the very challenging air traffic control environment, caused by staffing restrictions and capacity limitations, as well as adverse weather conditions, factors which are beyond the control of the airlines themselves,’ the company explained.