EasyJet’s cabin crew in Portugal went on a three-day strike on Saturday to demand higher wages. Therefore, many flights from Portugal, as well as in the direction of Switzerland, were cancelled.
A few flights were canceled on Saturday morning, notably to Bastia, Birmingham and Basel departing from Lisbon, as well as Madrid departing from Porto, according to information from Aéroports du Portugal (ANA) which advises passengers of the British carrier to inquire in advance of arrival at the airport. Portugal’s Ministry of Infrastructure, which oversees transportation, has established a service of no fewer than 54 flights.
For its part, EasyJet notes that it is doing everything it can to “minimize the impact” of this social movement, explaining that it has tried to pre-empt the strike by canceling flights in advance and by giving “the possibility of change to its customers”. Free ride, or to get a refund.
According to the National Union of Civil Aviation Employees (SNPVAC), which called for this mobilization, the airline had canceled 78 flights over the three days of the strike, which amounted to about 30% of scheduled flights, at the time the strike notice was announced on March 17.
A wage increase is required
The strikers are calling for an increase in wages, which have been “frozen since 2019,” and an improvement in their working conditions, a union spokesman told AFP.
He added that in Easyjet’s network in Europe, “we are the lowest paid” but also those who “work the longest hours with the fewest breaks,” adding that the decision to strike was taken after five months of failed negotiations. with a company.
