Unions representing European airlines are calling for strikes due to poor working conditions. Staff from Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, and SAS are planning strikes this summer. Let’s have a look at when each airline is planning to strike.
British Airways
Last week, British Airways ground and cabin crew voted whether to back a strike over the issue of wages. Unite, a union representing about 16,000 British Airways staff, said there was a 97% majority in a ballot about strike action. The union added that thousands of highly experienced staff were let go during the pandemic, leading to a shortage of check-in, loading, baggage handling, and cabin staff.
About 700 British Airways’ ground crew at London’s Heathrow have already announced that they will walk out next month. The dates have not yet been confirmed, but the unions must give the airline a 14-day notice. Because of this required period, the earliest the walk-outs could take place is July 8. A significant number of the staff that voted for the strike are underpaid women. They demand that the 10% pay cut imposed during the pandemic be reinstated.
Ryanair
Staff in multiple countries of the large European low-cost carrier, Ryanair, are planning to strike in June and July. In Spain, strikes have been planned for June 24-26, June 30, and July 1-2. In Portugal, workers also demand better working conditions and will be on strike from June 24-26.
Unions in Belgium have stated that they have been forced to take action because Ryanair is not respecting labor laws. In Belgium, workers are planning on going on strike this weekend, from June 24-26. Brussels Zaventem Airport already canceled all departing flights on Monday. Workers in Italy have called for a 24-hour strike on June 25 to join their Portuguese and Spanish colleagues.
In France, workers have threatened to walk out on June 25 and 26, and multiple airports may be affected.
easyJet
easyJet staff in Spain are planning to strike for nine days during July, according to the Unión Sindical Obrera. The strikes are planned in three phases, from July 1-3, July 15-17, and July 29-31. Cabin crew are protesting low wages, demanding a 40% salary increase. Unión Sindical Obrera represents about 80% of the 450 easyJet staff members based in Spain and hopes to reach an agreement to avoid a strike.
SAS
Scandinavian Airlines, Sweden’s flag carrier, could see around 1,000 pilots from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, go on strike next week because of wage disputes and cost-cutting measures. Currently, there are talks with hopes that a strike will be avoided.
On June 9, airport workers at the Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris went on strike to demand better wages and working conditions. The strike led to a cancellation of a quarter of the flights scheduled from CDG that day. Ground staff from Aéroports de Paris, the company that operates both CDG and the Orly airport in Paris, are planning on taking further action on July 2.
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