Strikes in airline sector source of major disruption

Strike action and other initiatives organised by a number of groups in the airline sector have placed growing pressure on companies in the industry. Sometimes, this pressure has been exerted in non-formal ways and has caused considerable disruption for customers. The conflict has occurred against the backdrop of significant changes in the sector, including a merger deal and plans to partially privatise the country’s public airport management operator.

Background

While the disruption caused by strike action often increases the effectiveness of the pressure exerted, it also generates annoyance and claims that discredit the organisers of the strike and its justification. In recent years, a number of initiatives in the airline sector have generated such dissatisfaction. In the majority of cases, the blame has been placed on pilots, frequently those working for Spain’s flagship airline, Iberia. In other cases, air traffic controllers, and less frequently other groups of ground personnel, have been blamed for the disruption.

Strike by airline pilots

In particular, criticism has been waged against the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas, SEPLA). The strength of this trade union in the sector has been growing in recent months. Since late November 2008, and over a period of two months, an unofficial and disguised strike was organised, involving airline pilots. The strike resulted in the cancellation of between 500 and 1,000 flights, along with 7,000 delays, which left thousands of passengers stranded (see SELPA news updates (in Spanish)). The conflict ended with a preliminary agreement in January 2009 (see news article (in Spanish)), reached between Iberia and SEPLA, prior to the renewal of the collective agreement. The agreement included a wage increase of 2.7% for 2009, as well as a retroactive rise of 2.3% for 2008, along with the removal of 41 files of sanction for pilots due to their involvement in the strike, and employment protection measures.

Merger deal

SEPLA was due to ratify the seventh collective agreement by general assembly in mid April 2009. The agreement with Iberia pilots will allow for a merger deal with British Airways. In July 2008, the board of directors of both Iberia and British Airways reached an agreement to merge through the creation of a joint company to be controlled by the two airlines. Previously, the company had approved the takeover of Iberia’s low-cost division, Clickair, by its most direct competitor, Vueling. The boards of both companies have approved the merger.

Other strike initiatives in sector

Another group that has shown considerable strength through its strike initiatives are the air traffic controllers. The main point of conflict for this group of workers is the plan for a partial privatisation of the public airport management operator, Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea, AENA). The Trade Union of Air Traffic Controllers (Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos, USCA) has expressed its opposition to the move, as have other major trade unions in the sector. An hour-long work stoppage was held on 25 March 2009. Furthermore, USCA is planning a strike for 1 July against the privatisation of AENA, the enforcement of agreements, and the removal of files of sanction for some controllers due to their behaviour in the most recent conflict.

Elsewhere, pilots at Spanair have announced a legal strike, although the date for this action has not yet been specified (see news article (in Spanish)).

Esteban Villarejo, CIREM Foundation