The works council of Groundforce, the main handling operator at Palma airport, has called a rally for tomorrow, Wednesday, at Son Sant Joan airport to demand better working conditions. The protest, organised by the workers, represented by the CCOO, UGT and USO trade unions, will take place at 11.30 a.m. and will be preceded by a press conference.
According to the organisers of the rally, the protest aims to highlight the ‘unsustainable’ working conditions caused by ‘a lack of recruitment, excessive workloads, abuse of overtime and the violation of basic labour rights such as breaks and health and hygiene conditions’. Two weeks ago, the workers decided in a meeting to begin a process of industrial action after the last meeting with the company’s personnel department proved fruitless.
At that time, in a statement issued by CCOO, the workers lamented that the company continues to consider Mallorca a ‘seasonal base’, operating between May and October, ‘to justify the limitation of conversions from fixed-term contracts to full-time permanent contracts’. This decision, in their opinion, contrasts with the operational reality of what is the largest handling operator at Son Sant Joan, where, despite being the third busiest airport in Spain in terms of passenger volume, ‘job insecurity is rife and constant’.
According to the works council, fixed-term contracts are maintained until almost mid-January and voluntary calls are made even during the month of February. During the summer months, these workers’ hours are reduced ‘while overtime skyrockets without any criteria or control’, reaching up to 14 hours per day for the same employee. If you are flying tomorrow, check with your airlines in case of delays or disruption at Palma airport.
Key demands from aviation workers
The aviation sector workers, represented by UGT, have outlined several specific demands, including:
Proper scheduling and agreement of holiday periods
Accurate calculations of professional level progressions
Recruitment of qualified staff for driving and supervision tasks
Provision of vehicles and work equipment to protect against high temperatures
Improved uniforms that "don't compromise dignity and image", including raincoats for wet weather protection