Palma Airport strikes: Popular holiday airport in Mallorca, Spain, could be hit by strike action - that could disrupt flights
There is a threat of a strike taking place at a popular holiday airport in Mallorca, Spain.
Palma Airport is grappling with labour disputes that could further disrupt operations and cancel or delay flights. Over 150 workers from Groundforce, the airport’s main handling operator, gathered on August 6 to demand better working conditions and improved benefits.
The workers are represented by several unions, including Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), and are calling for better conditions in order to prevent a strike. The workers’ council highlighted that they had been dealing with precarious working conditions for years, and previous negotiations with management had failed to produce results.
If a resolution is not reached soon, the workers have warned that partial strikes or a full walkout could occur. This could potentially add to the already ongoing disruptions, creating further inconvenience for passengers and impacting both leisure and business travel.
News of the impending demonstration comes after the Consumer Affairs department in the Balearic government called on central government to put in place measures to "guarantee the proper functioning of air traffic" in the islands. A spokesperson said: "From Consumer Affairs, it is stressed that air traffic in the Balearic Islands is not only key for tourism but also an essential public service for the connectivity of citizens, especially in an island territory such as the Balearic Islands.
"However, delays, cancellations and overbooking cause a growing volume of complaints, generate widespread discomfort and project a very negative image of the islands. The Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Health considers it essential that the competent aviation authorities are extremely vigilant and control during the high season and ensure compliance with European Regulation 261/2004, which protects the rights of passengers in the event of service interruptions.
"Likewise, the General Directorate denounces that the execution of works at Palma airport in the middle of high season generates a context of general discomfort, collapse in accesses and transit areas, and long waits at security controls, with direct damage to both passengers and staff working in the facilities. For all these reasons, Consumer Affairs calls on the central government to adopt measures to guarantee the proper functioning of air traffic in the Balearic Islands and protect the rights of passengers and the safety of users."