easyJet flight staff in Portugal have announced plans to hold two strikes in October and December to protest working conditions and pay issues. The first strike will take place from October 2 to 6, and the second strike from December 19 to 23. These strikes are likely to have a significant impact on the company's operations at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports.
Consequences of the strikes for passengers
According to the National Union of Public Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), around 500 scheduled flights may be canceled during the October strike unless minimum services are established by the authorities. The December strike may have an even greater impact as it coincides with the busy Christmas travel period. This time is one of the busiest periods of the year for air travel.
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Reasons for the strike and staff dissatisfaction
easyJet flight staff discussed working conditions and decided on further actions during a recent emergency public meeting. SNPVAC stated that the decision to strike was made by unanimous agreement of the 188 easyJet employees present at the meeting. This decision follows repeated efforts by staff to resolve work and pay issues that have been ignored by the company.
Among the concerns raised were frequent changes to work schedules, violations of collective labor agreements, discrimination in treatment of flight staff and pilots, operational planning issues, and pressure to work extra due to staff shortages. The union also stated that easyJet has been hiring Portuguese staff at salaries lower than those of other airlines operating in Portugal and even lower than easyJet's own salaries in other countries.
The statement also referred to the existence of a "climate of tension and dissatisfaction" resulting from long-standing deadlocks in labor disputes and emphasized that the situation has severely worsened. SNPVAC concluded that easyJet's ultimate goal is to indefinitely delay the current situation.
The union also claims that easyJet has repeatedly used managers and colleagues from other countries in its network to replace striking members, thereby continuing flights that would otherwise be canceled, effectively undermining the right to strike.
The October strike coincides with the public holiday of Portugal's Republic Day on October 5, and the December strike will continue until two days before Christmas, a time when many people travel for leisure or to return home.
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