Portugal’s airport workers threaten to strike in late August

By Catarina Demony and Patricia Vicente Rua

LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s civil aviation workers on Monday threatened to go on a three-day strike in late August, accusing the conglomerate that operates the country’s biggest airports of failing to increase wages and provide better working conditions.

The strike threat by Portugal’s Civil Aviation Workers’ Union (SINTAC) and the Commercial Aviation Staff Union (SQAC) is the latest in a series of walkouts at a time Europe’s transport sector continues to struggle handling a return to travel after COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

The strike is set to take place from Aug. 19 to Aug. 21, an usually busy summer weekend for travel, the unions said in a joint statement.

They have accused airport operator ANA, which manages 10 airports in Portugal including in Lisbon, Porto and Faro, and French group Vinci, which controls ANA, of making multi-million euro net profits but not paying decent wages to their workers.

The unions have also demanded that ANA and Vinci adopt “urgent” measures to guarantee workers feel safe while doing their jobs.

“Only by doing this (strike) we will be able to achieve what the company has been lacking for a long time: social stability, respect for workers’ rights and, fundamentally, for people,” the unions said.

In a statement, ANA said it regretted the unions’ decision to strike as salaries were reviewed in April and bonuses were given to workers. Vinci did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

“ANA will continue to promote dialogue with social partners and will continue the ongoing negotiation,” ANA said.

The unions represent not only some cabin crew but also ground handling services and other companies related to the aviation sector.

In neighbouring Spain, air traffic controllers warned in early July they were likely to call a strike if state-owned air navigation company Enaire failed to hire more people for the peak summer season.

Ryanair workers caused disruption at many Spanish airports in July, when they walked out for several days, mainly at weekends. They are expected to call for further strike action to press demands for higher pay and better working conditions.

(Reporting by Catarina Demony and Patrícia Vicente Rua; Additional reporting by Corina Rodriguez and Emma Pinedo Gonzalez in Madrid; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Marguerita Choy)