The threat of industrial action over New Year has now morphed into three separate strikes for Portugal’s airports (Faro, Lisbon and Porto) over the festive season – with the first starting tomorrow (Christmas Eve).
As the president of the Confederation of Portuguese Tourism has told Lusa, the unions’ call to baggage handlers and security staff “is the worst way to end the year and start a new one”, and is “bound to affect thousands of travellers, many of them emigrés returning to Portugal for Christmas”, writes Lusa.
Indeed, Francisco Calheiros considered there are “other ways of attracting attention” which would not have to cast such a shadow over the festive holidays.
But for now, that is exactly what will be happening from tomorrow, when baggage handlers who have been threatening strike action since early this month (click here) will be calling their first round of industrial action.
The 24th sees members of civil aviation system SINTAC on strike, while the dates of December 28 and 29 will see baggage handlers represented by airport workers’ union SITAVA walking out.
To confuse matters more, security personnel belonging to SITAVA will also be on strike for three days from December 27 to 29.
ANA airports authority has simply issued a press release encouraging anyone flying over Christmas and the New Year to turn up early for their flights, and if possible, carry hold-luggage only, as this will ease security checks.
