In the latest in a series of strikes hitting airports across the US, Europe and Australia, six airports in Spain are now set to endure five months of strikes by unhappy Ryanair cabin crew.
The trade unions Unión Sindical Obrera and Sitcpla have called for walkouts of 24 hours per week, taking place from Monday to Thursday, from August 8 until January 7.
"We are seeing a trickle of dismissals almost daily. Last week it was the tenth worker and yesterday another colleague from Barcelona who had been with the company for 12 years," union sources tell Euronews.
Striking staff also want the 11 workers who lost their jobs due to striking earlier this month to be reinstated. They are also calling for adequate rest breaks and five extra public holidays a year (currently, they are only offered nine a year, rather than the 14 that Spanish labour legislation mandates).
They are also demanding a wage increase, as salaries have still not recovered to pre-COVID levels.
Affected airports will be Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Seville and Palma de Mallorca, with international flights also threatened with disruption.
London Underground not spared from striking
After a series of rail strikes in London, another is set for August 18-20. The latest walkouts are in protest at Transport for London (TfL) over assurances of job and pension security.
Mick Lynch, Secretary-General of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, says: “Our members will once again take to picket lines in this important dispute over pensions, jobs and conditions. They have been messed around by TfL and Mayor Sadiq Khan.”
The last national rail strike took place on Wednesday (July 27) and severely affected the east-west Elizabeth line.
More disruption looms in Frankfurt
The recent strike organised by the trade union Ver.di at Frankfurt and Munich Airports has come to an end, after the 26-hour period for walkouts ended at 05h45 yesterday (July 28).
A third wage negotiation between Lufthansa and Ver.di is due from August 3-4.
"Should Lufthansa be stubborn next week and not improve its offer, we will consider further consequences for industrial action. Strikes would not be ruled out," warns Marvin Reschinsky, Union Secretary of Ver.di.
