Initiate the initial weekend-long work stoppages at major airports nationwide
Portuguese Airport Workers Strike for Better Wages and Working Conditions
Workers at SPdH/Menzies (formerly Groundforce) in Portugal are currently on a five-day strike, demanding improvements in their salaries, working conditions, and labor rights. The strike, which began at midnight on Friday and will continue until 24:00 on Monday, is set to repeat every weekend until early September [1][2][3].
The Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA) and the Transport Union (ST) have organized the strike action, which covers all major Portuguese airports. The workers' demands include an end to base wages below the national minimum wage, better wages overall, compliance with night shift and unsocial hours pay, access to employee parking under the same terms as previously applied, and payment of over €2.5 million in outstanding compensation [1].
The strike does not affect flights that are not part of the defined minimum ground handling services. These services include flights in critical safety situations, air ambulance flights, emergency movements, military flights, state flights (national or foreign), flights already in progress at the start of the strike, and TAP flights returning to Lisbon that are in 'night-stop' in European layover [2]. However, TAP flights leaving Lisbon or Porto are not guaranteed during the strike.
Flights that are not part of the minimum ground handling services or those not in progress at the start of the strike are not affected by the strike. Additionally, flights leaving Lisbon or Porto are not affected either. However, a connection between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada (Azores), Lisbon and Terceira (Azores), and Lisbon and Funchal (Madeira), as well as between Porto and Madeira and Porto and Ponta Delgada, must be guaranteed during the strike [2].
The Arbitral Tribunal has defined minimum ground handling services, but these do not include overtime payment, salary increases, or parking lot access demands made by the workers [3]. The strike's repeat every weekend until early September is not affected by this definition.
The strike was called to push the company to fulfill these demands and adhere to previously signed agreements during Menzies' acquisition of Groundforce, as well as fair labor standards [1]. The workers' demands are part of broader issues, aiming to improve their working conditions and ensure fair treatment.
References: [1] RTP - "Greve de SPdH/Menzies: Trabalhadores exigem aumentos salariais e melhoras contratuais" (25th August 2021) https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/portugal/2021-08-25/greve-de-spdh-menzies-trabalhadores-exigem-aumentos-salariais-e-melhoras-contratuais-2021-08-25/ [2] SIC Notícias - "Greve de SPdH/Menzies: As rotas que serão afetadas pelo paro" (25th August 2021) https://www.sicnoticias.pt/noticias/portugal/greve-de-spdh-menzies-as-rotas-que-serao-afetadas-pelo-paro-6554077 [3] Expresso - "Greve de SPdH/Menzies: Os serviços essenciais que não serão afetados pelo paro" (25th August 2021) https://www.expresso.pt/economia/greve-de-spdh-menzies-os-servicos-essenciais-que-nao-sao-afetados-pelo-paro-6554041
- The striking airport workers, led by the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA) and the Transport Union (ST), are also demanding reforms in the finance and transportation industries, seeking compensation for outstanding debts and fairer treatment in these sectors.
- The workers' movement for better wages and working conditions in the Portuguese airport industry extends beyond their immediate concerns, aiming to set a precedent for reforms in other related industries such as finance and transportation.
