Workers who provide the assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility at Palma Airport are threatening to strike if demands for improved working conditions are not met.
Industrial action in the form of refusing to work overtime began on Tuesday, union sources saying the workforce of up to around 600 is "at its limit", this action coinciding with the start of the tourism season. Employees face a precarious situation characterised by staff shortages, part-time contracts, and high operational pressure.
They are employed by the contractor, Adelte Transporte, and claim that a large number of seasonal staff are on weekly contracts of twenty to thirty hours, while the company routinely extends shifts and overtime "without prior planning". Some employees are forced to work shifts of up to 17 hours. These extended shifts are not reflected in their benefits, as social security contributions are linked to the original part-time contracts.
This situation, they maintain, is causing significant physical and psychological strain in what is a particularly sensitive service. As one worker says: "We don't transport goods; we work with people who need care and support." The pressure to reduce waiting times is hindering adequate service for blind passengers, the elderly and passengers with severely reduced mobility. The ongoing redevelopment work at the airport is said to be affecting the movement of adapted vehicles. "The routes are much longer, and that directly impacts assistance times."
Reports have been sent to the Balearic Government's labour inspectorate, and the workers are demanding greater involvement from the airports authority AENA.
Although strike action is being threatened, there is a view that temporary workers in particular will not support this because of a fear of losing their jobs. There is said to have been an increase in disciplinary proceedings, and with three proceedings, "you're out on the street without severance pay".