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ARCHIVED - easyJet boss resigns amid Spanish cabin crew strike chaos
Several more work stoppages are scheduled at airports in Spain this month
Low-cost airline easyJet announced on Monday July 4 that its chief operating officer, Peter Bellew, has resigned to “pursue other business opportunities” as the company struggles to keep flights in the air amid cabin crew strikes at three Spanish airports.
Mr Bellew has left under a cloud after being accused of “misleading” cabin crew, pilots and investors in an attempt to cut staffing costs.
Johan Lundgren, the airline’s chief executive, said: “I would like to thank Peter for his hard work and wish him well.
“Everyone at easyJet remains absolutely focused on delivering a safe and reliable operation this summer.”
The airline has already axed thousands of summer flights from Glasgow due to staff shortages and the disruption has only just begun as easyJet flight attendants have planned several more strike days in July at Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca airports.
Yesterday, unions representing Ryanair cabin crew added to travel woes, announcing a further 12 days of industrial action throughout July. Michael O’Leary’s company has already been forced to cancel hundreds of flights to and from Spain with double the number delayed during six days of strike action.
The Spanish unions have scheduled meetings with easyJet bosses for July 6 and 7 in the hope that an agreement can be reached on pay and working conditions. According to the USO, easyJet staff in Spain currently receive a base salary of around 950 euros per month – that’s 850 euros less than their colleagues in France and Germany.
Miguel Galan, the general secretary of the union in Malaga said that unions and staff would enter the negotiations this week “with the best disposition, but the company has to be serious and make an offer.”
If no resolution is forthcoming, easyJet cabin crew plan to continue with strike action in Spain on July 15, 16, 17, 29, 30 and 31.
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