Union criticizes easyJet for ‘strike budget but no pay rise’

The president of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel today accused easyJet of having a “budget” for strikes but not for pay increases, and warned that flight attendants are ready for more layoffs.

“Unfortunately, the attitude of the company is that when we give notice of a strike, they cancel meetings. EasyJet already has a “budget”. [orçamento] for strikes. In France and Spain, the company took one, two, three and, unfortunately, four strikes,” said Ricardo Penarroyas.

The President of the National Union of Civil Aviation Pilots (SNPVAC), who spoke to reporters at the door of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, along with about three dozen flight attendants who shouted “We don’t fly, we don’t fly,” criticized easyJet’s stance for “discriminating” Portuguese workers.

“It is unfair that a crew member in Portugal earns 67% less than a crew member in France or Germany. It is not the standard of living in Portugal compared to France that justifies this difference. We are talking about one of the most profitable bases, a network that made $228 million in first quarter profits.

Already at the action, the orange “t-shirts” worn by some flight attendants read: “An Englishman, a Frenchman, a Portuguese work for easyJet. It seems like a joke, but the Portuguese earn much less.”

“EasyJet is an extension, but wages are not” or “Discrimination: Portuguese wages don’t reach the end of the month” are other phrases that are most often heard in protests whose main banner reads “We are no less than others!”.

To reporters, Ricardo Penarroyas told reporters that negotiations with the company “seem like a game of patience,” illustrating what happened in other countries such as Spain or France, where, he insisted, “it took a third or fourth strike for some of the flight attendants’ complaints to be heard.”

“The reality is always the same: the offer is always far below the reality of the country. The second proposal comes with some improvements, the third one too.

For the president of SNPVAC, the situation is “clear and obvious”: “If easyJet claims to be the second brand in Portugal, then wage conditions should accompany this growth,” he concluded.

This is the third strike of these workers in the last three months.

Union leaders accuse the carrier of being “unreliable and discriminatory” against other countries and demand higher wages as well as better working conditions.

Jessica Frose, also a leader of the SNPVAC union, explained that flight schedules are currently subject to change at any time and that workers are asking for “at least” 48-hour predictability.

The union leader indicated that 96 flights had been canceled nationally, after the company had already canceled 346 flights after the strike notice.

“Sixty-six has not been cancelled, but passengers may be surprised,” said Jessica Frose.

The destinations most affected by the shutdown are Madeira, London, Paris, Geneva and Luxembourg.

This is the first day of the strike, which will last until Tuesday.

In Porto, several passengers were already surprised by the cancellation of the flight to Luxembourg at 07:10.

“We wasted time and time and time waiting for an explanation and nothing. Now if there is a flight, I don’t go until 18:00. And I’m not from Porto, I came here yesterday [quinta-feira] and I paid for the hotel and food to be ready at 07:00 in the morning, and now who pays me for this? This is unacceptable,” said Irene Gomez.

Together with his husband, Filipe Gomes explained why “they really need to get to Luxembourg”: “I’m going there to get the vaccine. I already had an appointment for a nurse to come to my house and all that,” he described, adding that despite the uncertainty, he would be waiting 12 hours at Sa Carneiro airport and “there is hope.”