Many ground service employees at Geneva International Airport have expressed their dissatisfaction with their current working conditions, leading them to go on strike today, as reported by international newspapers. The strike was initiated by employees engaged in ground services following a dispute with an air transport company employing them, which is expected to slow down travel movement during the holiday season.
The employees, who handle about a quarter of the traffic through Geneva’s Cointrin International Airport, began their strike at 4 a.m. (3 a.m. GMT) today, Sunday. The work stoppage is expected to slow down the peak travel movement during Christmas, with around 60,000 people anticipated to travel through the airport on Sunday. The striking employees are responsible for various ground services, including ticketing and baggage handling, for several international airlines, including British Airways, Air France, and KLM.
The union, which had been threatening this move since the beginning of the week, stated that the duration of the strike would be assessed “hour by hour,” according to the “20 Minutes” news website. The airport service workers are demanding a 5% increase in their salaries.
Airport strikes, particularly during holiday seasons, have been a recurring issue affecting travel plans globally. Recent reports highlight the looming threat of airline strikes during the holiday season in the United States. Flight attendants from several major U.S. airlines, including Southwest, United, Alaska, and American Airlines, are considering strikes, raising concerns about potential travel disruptions. These strikes stem from a feeling of underappreciation among cabin crews and airport service workers, especially after pilots received substantial pay hikes. The possibility of these strikes during the critical holiday travel period adds a layer of uncertainty and potential chaos for travelers, exacerbating the already challenging travel conditions during peak seasons.
In Spain, the Spanish Workers’ Commission (CCOO) and the General Union of Workers (UGT), representing ground service workers at Iberia (IB), have planned walkouts at various dates between December 29, 2023, and January 7, 2024. This strike is in response to a new contract signed by a new provider and involves ground service workers, including baggage handlers, at Spanish commercial airports controlled by government-owned Aena. The walkout is seen as a protest against the new contract, raising concerns about potential impacts on holiday travel and reunification of friends and families during this important time. The strikes are also a reaction to Iberia’s refusal to establish “self-handling” operations in airports where a public tender was lost.
