Hunger strike at Iberia

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A hunger strike combined with work as usual is not a common form of protest, but was employed in August 1997 by some employees of Spain's national airline, Iberia. This conflict, and the workers' claim for geographic mobility, met with a mixed response from the trade unions whilst receiving the support of public opinion.

An unusual form of conflict broke out at the beginning of August 1997 among employees of the Iberia national airline with "permanent non-continuous" contracts at Ibiza airport (in the Balearic Islands). These workers went on hunger strike, but continued to work as usual.

Up until a few months ago, the workers involved had employment contracts with a duration of 9 or 10 months. For the rest of the year, during the winter period, a subsidy from the National Employment Institute (INEM) replaced payment by the company. However, changes in the system of calculating benefits, and the development of part-time contracts, have severely reduced the winter benefits that will in future be received by these workers.

A hunger strike was started by two members of the workers' committee and was followed a few days later by dozens of workers, some of whom had to be hospitalised. The protesters' demand was that in the winter period the company should transfer the workers involved to other airports at which there is substantial overtime working, or where new staff are being recruited. Iberia management replied that this was a demand that should be made at the level of all the airports in the country. Moreover, the majority trade unions on the workers' committee, Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO) and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), showed a certain disorientation: on the one hand they supported the workers, but on the other they feared that their proposal would lead to a form of geographic mobility that would be difficult to control. However, there was no doubt that the workers' protest had important repercussions, since it was clearly visible to the public at large. Therefore, the trade unions and some left-wing parties asked Iberia for a sensitive approach to solving the problem.

After 15 days of hunger strike, the conflict ended on 23 August, when Iberia management and the employees concerned reached an agreement, which includes the following provisions:

• the creation of a joint committee to examine the needs of the firm at Ibiza airport during September and October 1997 and over 1998, in order to give employees "the maximum amount of working hours";

• the transformation of 10 contracts from "permanent non-continuous" (whereby the employees work every year for Iberia but only in some months) to permanent part-time, in Madrid; and

• a commitment to negotiate in the next collective agreement a system of transfers and exchanges for employees on "permanent non-continuous" contracts.