Airport Strikes to go ahead from 27th March in the Canary Islands
Holidaymakers travelling to and from the Canary Islands this Easter are being warned of potential disruption as airport ground handling staff, including check-in, baggage handling and aircraft assistance, will strike following failed talks between unions and employers.
The industrial action involves workers from Groundforce and Menzies Aviation, affecting key services for airlines including easyJet, Jet2, and AER Lingus.
More than 1,500 employees across the islands have been called to strike over what unions describe as ongoing breaches of pay and working conditions.
According to Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) in the Canary Islands, the situation involves “two parallel strikes”, with no minimum service levels yet confirmed, raising concerns about the scale of disruption.
Indefinite action at key airports
For Groundforce staff, unions claim the company has failed to correctly apply a wage protection clause in the collective agreement. They argue that pay should have risen by around 7.82%, rather than the 4.58% implemented.
In the Canary Islands, strikes linked to Groundforce begin on Friday 27th March and are set to continue indefinitely at airports in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
Walkouts are scheduled three times a day, early morning, midday and late evening (from 5:00am to 7:00am, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, and from 10:00pm until midnight), on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. However, passengers should be advised that even arriving or departing outside those hours could have an effect due to “domino effect” disruptions.
Key Easter dates for further disruption
Meanwhile, the dispute involving Menzies affects staff at Tenerife North Airport, Tenerife South Airport and Gran Canaria. Here, 24-hour strikes are planned for 28th and 29th March, and again on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th April, coinciding with the busy Easter travel period.
Unions cite unpaid wages, payroll errors, poor shift planning and excessive unpaid overtime among the main grievances.
Job concerns add to tensions
The dispute is further complicated by ongoing negotiations over a potential redundancy scheme at Gran Canaria Airport, which could see full-time contracts reduced to part-time for up to two years.
Unions strongly oppose the move, questioning its justification, particularly if companies continue to rely on temporary staff and overtime.
Risk of ongoing disruption
Union representatives say the strikes stem from repeated failures by companies to honour previous agreements. They warn that the action could be extended if no progress is made in negotiations.
With ground handling staff responsible for essential airport operations, passengers travelling to and from the Canary Islands during Easter are advised to check with their airlines and allow extra time at airports.
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