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More baggage handler strikes threatened after a chaotic weekend in airports across Spain
Lost luggage and hundreds of cancelled flights as Iberia strikes in Spain enter their fourth day
The four-day industrial action called by unions representing Iberia’s ground staff has entered its last day but the labour organisations have insisted they will call further strikes in the coming weeks as the dispute drags on.
While the unions stressed that “their intention is to continue with the negotiations”, at the moment no date has been set for another round of talks, and the next work stoppages are likely to be even more chaotic since they will include aircraft maintenance and repair services as well.
The protests called between January 5 and 8 are intended to put pressure on Iberia to maintain its own aircraft assistance services despite having lost several Aena contracts late last year. They claim that thousands of staff absorbed by the new handling companies have had their salaries cut and lost bonuses.
Over the weekend, Iberia has been forced to cancel 444 flights in advance, a decision that has impacted around 45,000 passengers. The company’s ground subsidiary provides services to more than 90 airlines and operates in 29 Spanish airports.
While the airline insists that 82% of flights were on time on Sunday January 7, the main problems were with passenger luggage. Due to the lack of staff on the ground, hundreds of suitcases couldn’t be unloaded on time and these were left piled up in the airport.
According to the UGT union, 750 bags never even made it onto their corresponding flights on Saturday January 6.
Despite Iberia’s assurances, many passengers had to endure hellish ordeals at the airport. In Valencia, travellers had to wait two and a half hours on the runway before they were allowed to disembark after landing.
Likewise, passengers on a flight between Gran Canaria and Bilbao on the night of January 6 had to spend the night in Barcelona and then travel by bus to the Basque city, due to the late departure of the aircraft resulting from delays in loading the suitcases.
Image: Archive
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