Portugal holiday warning as airport staff to strike this month
BRITS heading to Portugal this summer are being warned of strike action which could disrupt holiday plans.
Airport staff in Portugal are threatening to walk out this month for three days in a disagreement over pay and working conditions.
Portugal’s Civil Aviation Workers’ Union (SINTAC) and Commercial Aviation Staff Union (SQAC) will go on strike from August 19 to 21 during the busy summer holiday weekend.
The strike will include cabin crew, ground handling staff and other airport workers.
If it goes ahead, 10 airports will be affected including Lisbon, Faro and Porto, ruining holiday plans for thousands of passengers.
The unions said in a statement: "Only by doing this (strike) we will be able to achieve what the company has been lacking for a long time: social stability, respect for workers’ rights and, fundamentally, for people."
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ANA - who operates the airports, said in response: "ANA will continue to promote dialogue with social partners and will continue the ongoing negotiation."
The Portuguese strikes are just some of the walkouts threatening summer holidays this year.
Ryanair cabin crew in Spain have threatened to walk out for four days a week for the next five months, lasting until January.
EasyJet pilots have warned of nine days of strike action this summer as well.
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And British Airways pilots are threatening to walk out this month as well - which could ground all flights if similar to their last pilot strike in 2019.
The CEO of Heathrow airport has warned the current chaos passengers are experiencing - with cancelled flights, long airport queues and lost luggage - is nowhere near finished with.
As the travel industry adjusts to seeing customers of pre-covid levels, demand for flights has outweighed available staff, leading to cancellations and delays.
John Holland-Kaye told Bloomberg, that unfortunately the chaos could last for around 18 months, saying it isn't going to be "a quick fix."
Even staycations are at risk with more rail strikes threatened as well.
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RMT workers have confirmed an additional THREE strike dates for August.
Strikes are set to go ahead on August 13, August 18 and August 20, threatening to plunge the UK's rails into lockdown.
