The strike by the handling companies Menzies, formerly Groundforce, and Portway has already led to the delay of 17 flights in Lisbon, with 21 trucks carrying cargo for the PALOP and Brazil not expected to be dispatched, said a union source.
Speaking to Lusa, Carlos Oliveira, from the direction of the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA), said, at 4:45 pm, that there were already 17 delayed flights at Lisbon airport, due to a strike by Menzies workers who provide ground assistance at airports.
According to the official, the impact of the strike by these workers, who provide ground assistance (‘handling’) at airports, will be felt “later”, taking long-haul flights, feeling “a greater impact between 6:30 pm and 10 pm :30”.
Carlos Oliveira said that there are 21 trucks with cargo to be loaded and transported to Brazil and Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), “there is still no forecast of when it will be unloaded”.
The union leader reiterated that pressure is being put on the workers, recalling that “the ‘station manager’ is putting pressure on the heads of the operational areas to tell the workers that they cannot go on two strike periods, they can only go on one.”
“It’s happened before and it’s happened again. But workers can go on strike for one or two periods, do whatever they want,” he clarified.
The strike, which began at 00:00 on December 22nd, is carried out in two-hour modules at the entrance and/or exit of shifts.
The latest information from an official ANA source, at 1:30 p.m., was that there were no “flights canceled due to the strike” and that it was taking place “without impact so far”
Carlos Oliveira said that on Christmas Day, Wednesday, the impact of the strike “is expected to be more painful”, as there are many workers “who will not work all day, not just two hours”, he said. .
Lusa tried to obtain data on the participation in the strike by SPdH/Menzies workers, who are demanding better salary and working conditions, but is awaiting a response.
The origin of the protest is the company’s lack of response to issues such as the lack of transport at some of the times when shifts start and end and the requirement that workers pay for parking when they take their car.
SIMA also requires Menzies to end the existence of base salaries lower than the value of the national minimum wage (820 euros in 2024) and pay for night hours at the amount stipulated in the company agreement.
In addition to workers from the former Groundforce, those from the Portway handling company also have a strike scheduled for the Christmas and New Year period.
The strike called by the unions covers all overtime work, starting at 00:00 on December 24, 2024 and until 24:00 on January 1, 2025.
It will also take place from 00:00 on December 24th until 24:00 on the same day and from 00:00 on December 31st until 00:00 on the last day of the year.
The strike will also cover work on public holidays that are normal working days, from December 24th until January 2nd, 2025.
Source: www.jornaldenegocios.pt
