“The SPAC clarifies that, due to internal organizational reasons and statutory nature, it was not in a position to participate in the meetings held in recent weeks aimed at defining these minimum services,” said SPAC President Hélder Santinhos in response to questions.
The union leader stated that “this absence should not be interpreted as a refusal of principle or any disrespect towards the other unions that, within their capabilities, reached an agreement with the companies.”
According to Hélder Santinhos, “the general strike on December 11 is not a protest directed at the airlines or, even less, at the passengers,” asserting it is “a protest against broader labor and social policies.”
“In this context, SPAC considers it absolutely natural — and indeed legally obligatory — that minimum services be defined and ensured to satisfy essential social needs, particularly connections to the Autonomous Regions and some essential international flights,” he emphasized.
The union assured that “it will comply with the minimum services to be set, either by agreement with the unions or by decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, making available the necessary crews for the flights deemed essential.”
It also called for “understanding from passengers affected by possible constraints and reiterates its commitment to safety and the public air transport service, even in a context of union struggle.”
SPAC has scheduled an extraordinary general meeting for December 5, for associated pilots to decide whether to join the stoppage.
Airlines TAP and Sata and ground handling company SPdH agreed with several unions on the implementation of minimum services during the general strike, as per documents published by DGERT.
In TAP’s case, the agreement disclosed by the Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT) was with Sitava – the Aviation and Airport Workers Union, Sitema – the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Union, SIMA – the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union, and SNPVAC – the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel.
The airline will operate three round trips to the Azores and two to Madeira, as well as one round-trip flight to the following countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau.
Additionally, three round-trip flights to Brazil and two to the USA are also planned.
For Sata International, the agreement was with Sitava and Sitema.
Nine flights have been agreed upon by the company, covering connections between the Mainland and the Autonomous Regions and internal inter-island connections.
SPdH reached an agreement with Sitava and Sima after proposing to support 30% of the flights of its client airlines.
The handling company will assist the flights covered in TAP and Sata’s minimum services, plus one round trip to Germany operated by Lufthansa. It also ensures assistance to return-to-base flights whose departure occurred before the strike began.
