Ryanair strikes: Flights to be disrupted in January as Spanish unions announce walkout
Walkouts called for 8, 10 and 13 January
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Your support makes all the difference.Ryanair passengers travelling to Spain in the first few weeks of the new year could be left stranded by another round of strikes, as unions called for walkouts.
Spanish unions USO and Sitcpla, which represent Ryanair staff in the country, today called for walkouts on 8, 10 and 13 January after failing to reach an agreement with the budget carrier.
The strike applies to Ryanair cabin crew across Spain, the unions said in a statement. The strike call will be formalised with both unions shortly, they added.
Last week the unions said that they would strike for three days in January if demands for better working conditions for staff were not met. In an earlier statement, they accused Europe’s biggest airline of “absurd and childish behaviour” for not coming to an agreement.
The row focuses on Ryanair’s practice of not employing staff on local labour contracts.
In a statement, Jairo Gonzalo of USO called Ryanair’s “refusal to accept” Spanish law “disgusting”.
Ryanair has already signed various labour agreements with unions across Europe.
At the end of September, around 40,000 passengers were affected by a one-day strike by Ryanair staff across six European countries, including the Netherlands. The walkout by pilots and cabin crew grounded around 250 flights.
Earlier this month, the Civil Aviation Authority said Ryanair would face “enforcement actiom” over its refusal to pay compensation to passengers disrupted by strike action.
Ryanair has not responded to The Independent‘s request for comment.
Separately, staff are striking at Madrid International Airport. Workers for private security company Eulen have extended their strike until 21 January, which has been called by union Alternativa Sindical. Passengers should expect delays at Madrid airport security.
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