PASSENGERS travelling through Palma de Mallorca Airport should expect delays and disruption after an important cohort of workers announced indefinite strike action from Monday.
The action will affect PRM (People with Reduced Mobility) services at Mallorca’s main airport, one of Spain’s busiest ahead of the vital summer season.
Workers employed by airport services company Adelte plan to stop work at different times across the week, including full 24-hour strikes every Saturday.
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On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, walkouts will take place from 12pm to 3pm and from 6pm to 9pm.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, strikes are planned from 5am to 7am, midday, from 12pm to 2pm and evening hours, from 6pm to 8pm.
Sunday stoppages will take place from 12pm to 3pm and from 9pm to 11.59pm.
The workers help passengers with reduced mobility move through the airport, board the aircraft and collect luggage, meaning the stoppages could cause problems during busy travel periods.
According to the works council, the dispute comes after months of staff shortages, issues with overtime and last-minute changes to working hours.
The committee claims thousands of overtime hours have been arranged with little notice, with some employees already carrying out almost 100 hours of overtime in the first four months of this year alone.
Workers also accuse the company of failing to respect agreements made after previous strike threats were suspended.
These included promises over stable shifts, better planning and improved communication with staff representatives.
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“We have been working under constant pressure for far too long, with daily changes, a lack of planning, and no real willingness to negotiate,” the works council said in a statement.
The committee added that many staff members are regularly contacted outside working hours to change shifts or receive instructions.
“The staff is exhausted and feels that the company only reacts when there is a conflict,” representatives said.
Workers have also raised concerns over safety issues involving runway vehicles and stress caused by heavy passenger demand during peak periods.
Both sides are due to meet at a mediation hearing on Thursday in a final attempt to find solutions to the conflict before the strike begins.
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