Menzies workers’ strike at airports this morning saw a 50% turnout and no flights cancelled. The union regrets that the workers are happy with their situation but is showing a “clear conscience”.
“We who work here every day in production usually don’t have time to even go to the toilet, at that time there is usually a crowd, but today everything is very calm. About 50% of people were absent and the other 50% are covering all this,” Catarina Silva of the Portuguese Transport Workers’ Union (Sttamp) told Lusa.
Workers at the ground handling company have announced a two-day strike to protest low wages and successive changes to working hours, according to a notice issued by the Sttamp union.
In response to Luce, Menzis Portugal said that up until 12:00, participation in the strike was “minor and did not have a significant impact on the company’s operations.”
The company said there were no cancelled flights and that the operation continues to operate in a controlled and undisturbed manner at all airports.
According to the union leader, among the workers who did not participate in the strike, there are, first of all, those whose base wage is below the minimum.
The union does not expect the company to respond to the demands, since half of the workers “have demonstrated that they are satisfied with their current conditions.”
Catarina Silva also mentioned that many of these workers were on leave and were looking forward to returning, and that the company, in exceptional cases, provides “snacks” to those who decided not to participate in the strike.
However, he noted that the scenario could change in the afternoon when new shifts begin.
“A plenary session was held, explanations were given. The workers so far show that they are happy. This may change, people will still come in the afternoon. Moreover, the union considers itself a person with a completely clear conscience. If they did not join, it is because they are happy, and if they are happy, they can do nothing,” he concluded.
ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal warned in a statement today of the possibility of flight cancellations due to strike action by workers at its Menzis (formerly Groundforce) handling company at the nation’s airports.
Speaking to Lusa, an ANA airport manager confirmed that the strike had had “little significant impact” on the airports and that no cancellations had occurred.