Air Europa and Air Nostrum pilots call for strikes in Spain

The Spanish Airline Pilots Union (Sepla) announced the call for strike action by Air Europa and Air Nostrum pilots during June and July.

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The measures, which would take place at all bases and work centres in Spain, could have a strong impact on the airlines’ schedules right at the peak of the summer season, which is characterised by high passenger traffic growth.

Air Europa pilots strike

The union representing Air Europa’s pilots confirmed the call for a strike to take place between 19 June and 2 July at all the carrier’s bases in the country.

Sepla said it was forced to carry out the measure «due to the closed-mindedness and obstructionism of Air Europa’s management, which continues to prefer confrontation to negotiation with the workers».

Previously, it had warned that strikes would take place during the summer season if the company refused to «negotiate a fair agreement». For the union, the company masks productivity as a wage review and forces pilots to give up part of the rights guaranteed by the fourth collective bargaining agreement, currently in force. In this regard, they cite breaches of this agreement during the past summer, especially in relation to accommodation and food conditions for crews.

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Air Europa management had already referred to the possible measure as «irresponsible and selfish». The company maintains that its proposals have always been «practically the same» as those requested by the pilots’ representatives.

Among other demands, the union is demanding a recovery of real wages, which they say were reduced as a result of the company’s economic situation and the impact of the pandemic from 2020.

See also: Air Europa pilots call for strike days that could extend into summer

Air Nostrum pilots’ strike

On the other hand, Air Nostrum pilots’ representatives confirmed the call for a daily indefinite strike at all bases and work centres from yesterday, Tuesday 6 June.

«The pilots have regretted that Iberia Regional Air Nostrum has pushed them to take this difficult step», Sepla said in a press release. According to the organisation, the company’s stance has forced them to take this step «after seven months in which it has systematically rejected the proposals of the pilots in favour of fair working conditions and professional classification».

See also: Iberia Regional pilots announce an indefinite strike