Holidaymakers looking to fly back from Spain next week face possible disruption as a coordinated three-day walkout by easyJet Spanish-based cabin crew looms. Industrial action is scheduled across the country between Wednesday, June 25, and Friday, June 27th.
The Unión Sindical Obrera (USO) in Spain said the strikes could involve more than 650 flight attendants based in various travel hotspots, including Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca. The union said workers were striking to “level the crews’ working and wage conditions in Spain with the ones at other bases of the company in Europe.” They claim cabin crews in Spain earn much less than people doing the same job in other countries.
Pier Luigi Copello, USO general secretary for easyJet Spain, previously pointed to the “sharp rise in the cost of living in Spain, which is now comparable to that of other European countries”.
“The same cannot be said for the wages of easyJet cabin crew in Spain, which remain close to the minimum wage,” he added, as per The Independent.
Easyjet has said it employs crews in eight countries “on local terms and conditions”, as per Sky News.
The strikes come during a busy period for spring travel, with Britons heading to the continent in large numbers.
An spokesperson for the airline previously told The Mirror: “EasyJet has been advised of strike action by its Spain-based cabin crew at its Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante and Palma bases on June 25, 26 and 27.
“We currently plan to operate our full schedule as normal and would like to reassure customers that we will do all possible to minimise the impact of any action.”
They added that easyJet employed crews in eight different countries “on local terms and conditions”.
Regulations in Spain compel airline workers to provide a minimum level of service during industrial action to limit disruption.
