Workers at one of Spain's biggest airlines are set to strike in May putting flights at risk of being cancelled. Spanish pilots union Sepla called the strike on Thursday, stating Air Europa had "zero interest" in resolving a labour dispute.
More than 600 pilots plan to walk out on May 1, 2, 4 and 5, at all airports in Spain where Air Europa has bases, as reported by Birmingham Live. The strikes will coincide with May bank holiday and the upcoming coronation of King Charles III.
Air Europa regularly flies from Gatwick Airport to various Spanish cities. Hundreds of Air Europa flights are likely to be cancelled and delayed, but the airline will have to offer minimum services by Spanish law, reports the Local.es.
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Sepla has said it’s "disheartening" that Air Europa’s managers "ignore" the pilots’ call for a rise in wages, which have remained stagnant for the past few years and resulted in a loss of purchasing power. "This measure responds to the tension and labour conflict generated by Air Europa management playing with workers' rights," the union said in a statement, adding that pilots "feel discriminated" by the company.
"Giving in to these pressures from managers would have been irresponsible with the professional and personal future of the group of pilots," Sepla said.
An Air Europa spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing dispute. But in a leaked internal memo to staff reported by Europa Press news agency, the company described the strike as "irresponsible and selfish" and accused Sepla of intending to strike "since the very start" regardless of the negotiations, reports Reuters.
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