The ongoing strike by ground handling staff has led to flight cancellations, as confirmed by Carlos Araújo, leader of the Metalworkers and Related Industries Union (SIMA). “So far, this is what we have as guaranteed,” he stated regarding the canceled flights throughout the day.
A response from ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal about the effect of the strike on handling services is still awaited. On the third day of the strike, Araújo noted the increasing number of flights departing without luggage. “This is literally causing a mountain of unprocessed baggage,” he explained.
The strike, organized by SIMA and the Transport Union (ST), began at midnight on Friday and will continue until midnight on Monday. It is the first of five planned four-day strikes scheduled over weekends until early September, with additional strikes set for August 8 to 11, 15 to 18, 22 to 25, and August 29 to September 1.
Workers are demanding the end of base salaries below the national minimum wage, payment for night hours, improved salary conditions, and continued access to parking facilities as before.
As the protest approaches its fourth day, Araújo hopes that Menzies Aviation will engage in good-faith negotiations to address grievances. “We want no employee in this company to earn less than the minimum wage. It needs to be equal or higher,” Araújo stated, highlighting the hardships many younger workers face.
The union accuses SPdH/Menzies of “flagrantly violating the right to strike” and attempting to “neutralize the strike’s effects” through illegal practices such as “forced shift changes and calling employees in on their days off,” “replacing strikers with temporary workers,” and “abusive schedule reorganization.”
“SIMA is collecting evidence of these illegalities and will file formal complaints with the Labor Conditions Authority (ACT) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, demanding accountability from Menzies/SPdH management,” the union announced in a Saturday statement.
