TAP Air Portugal cabin crew are part way through a two-day strike. On Tuesday this week, the Portuguese union SNPVAC voted to go ahead with strike action on December 8th and 9th, demanding higher salaries and improved working conditions.
SNPVAC has confirmed that its members also agreed to five further days of strike action before the end of January 2023 – the dates are yet to be confirmed, but they could fall over the critical Christmas and New Year holiday period when the airline is expected to operate over 300 flights per day.
As a result of the strike, TAP Air Portugal has already been forced to cancel 360 flights from its hubs at Lisbon Airport (LIS) and Porto Airport (OPO), impacting around 50,000 passengers and costing the airline in excess of €8 million ($8.45 million).
Under Portuguese law, some flights are protected and must be operated, despite the walkout. These protected services include flights to and from Madeira and the Azores, certain Portuguese-speaking countries, and routes used by large numbers of Portuguese emigrant communities.
SNPVAC called the strike after failing to reach an agreement with TAP Air Portugal. As part of its ongoing €3.2 billion ($3.4 billion) restructuring plan, which has already resulted in 2,900 job losses, the airline has proposed wage cuts and more flexible working hours. The union has described these proposals as “absolutely unacceptable and manifestly reductive.”
Check out all the latest European aviation news here.
The response from TAP Air Portugal
TAP Air Portugal apologized to its passengers for the disruption caused by the strikes, and reiterated that it was still open to further negotiation with SNPVAC, after having already accepted nine of the union’s 14 demands. The airline’s chief executive officer, Christine Ourmières-Widener expressed disappointment at the strike, saying,
“We are very sad. I hope that we will be able to meet again after these two days and try to find a solution to avoid disruptions for everyone. It is important to ensure that we all bear in mind that TAP is strategic for the country and that the survival of TAP and a better financial result – which we have already shown in the third quarter – are critical for the future. For the future of the company, for the future of the country and also for the future of employment for all TAP workers”.
The airline also took to Twitter to inform customers of the strike action:
Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today .
Ongoing strike action across Europe
With record levels of inflation and rising living costs, many European countries are facing strike action in the coming weeks. In the UK, Border Force employees at six airports are set to walk out over the busy holiday period. Significant disruption is expected as a result, including at the country’s three largest airports – London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), and Manchester (MAN).
Have you been affected by the TAP Air Portugal cabin crew strikes? Do you agree with the walkout called by SNPVAC? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.
