easyJet pilots in Spain announce 9 days of strikes in August

The latest work stoppages come after easyJet cabin crew in Spain reached a pay agreement and cancelled further strikes

Airlines across Europe have been experiencing a wave of industrial action all summer which has led to untold disruption and easyJet pilots are the latest to add to the travel woes, announcing a total of nine strike days throughout August.

According to the union representing the carrier’s pilots in Spain, the work stoppages are a last resort after months of failed negotiations to alter pay rates, contracts and working conditions.

The Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (SEPLA) has confirmed that three 72-hour strikes are planned from August 12-14, 19-21 and 27-29. They are demanding that pay rates be restored to pre-pandemic levels (similar to the requests of easyJet’s cabin crew) and have asked that pilots be given multi-year contracts.

“This is the last possible recourse, as all attempts by the pilots’ representatives to reach an agreement have failed,” SEPLA said.

An easyJet spokesperson said that the airline is aware that staff plan to down tools at three of its Spanish bases – Malaga, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca and that it was “disappointed with this action at this critical time for the industry.”

Although the airline claims that talks are ongoing, the union said that negotiations have reached a stale mate after six months of attempts to bring working conditions in Spain up to the level enjoyed by easyJet pilots in other parts of Europe.

Through a statement, SEPLA explained that “the only aim of the union section in easyJet is to recover the working conditions that the pilots had in 2019, now that the number of flights is very similar to what it was two years ago, as well as to resume negotiations for the signing of the new agreement”.

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Source: Murcia Today