Workers demand wage increases, frozen since 2019, and better working conditions. The company claims to have operated more than 80% of its flight program on April 1, 2 and 3.
The British low-cost company Easyjet canceled 16 flights, of the 158 scheduled for this Monday, a company source told Lusa, consulted about the impact of the cabin crew strike that began on Saturday in Portugal.
“In total we had 52 protected (cancelled) flights and we operated 530 flights in Portugal, 80% of what was planned,” reads the information sent to Lusa on the third and last day of the strike, called to demand salary increases and better the working conditions.
According to the company, 16 flights were canceled on Saturday, out of the 192 planned, and 20 flights were canceled on Sunday, out of a total of 180.
“On Saturday, we even inaugurated a new route, Porto – Naples. Regarding Faro in particular, we operate 91% of the operation on Saturday (64 flights) and on Sunday we operate 90% of the operation, 56 flights).
The company claims to have operated “more than 80% of its flight schedule” on April 1, 2 and 3. For this Monday it estimates to secure 77% of the operation planned for the country.
“We will continue to do everything possible to minimize the impact of the strike on customers. Passengers with reservations on flights within the strike period also have the option to change their flight,” the company said in a statement.
EasyJet recommends customers to check the flight status on the flight tracker (https://www.easyjet.com/en/flight-tracker) and, if necessary, make changes on the website (“Manage bookings” tab). “).
“We are disappointed with this strike, especially considering the significant investment we have made in the country in recent yearswhich created hundreds of new jobs in Portugal and we look forward to SNPVAC resuming a constructive dialogue with us,” the company said.
The company currently employs more than 750 peopleof which around 534 are cabin crew.
Agence France-Presse reported this weekend the cancellation of dozens of flights, specifically from Bastai (France), Birmingham (United Kingdom) and Basel (Switzerland), originating in Lisbon, as well as Madrid, from Porto, according to information of Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA), which advised passengers to find out before going to the airport.
The infrastructure ministry, which oversees transport, has established a minimum service of 54 flights, according to AFP.
For its part, Easyjet indicated that it was doing everything possible to “minimize the impact” of the action, explaining that it tried to anticipate the effects of the strike, canceling flights in advance and giving customers the possibility of changing their trip from for free or get a refund.
According to the National Union of Civil Aviation Personnel, which called the strike, the company canceled 78 flights in the three days of the strike, which corresponds to about 30% of the scheduled flights, at the time of the announcement of the strike notice, in March. 17
The workers are demanding wage increases, “frozen since 2019” and better working conditions, a union spokesperson told AFP.
In the Easyjet network in Europe they claim to be “the least well paid”. They also claim that they work longer hours, with shorter rest periods.” But the company says it complies with the country’s laws.
Source: Observadora
