Unions representing cabin crew and ground staff at Iberia are threatening to hold a six-day strike just ahead of the Christmas holiday period in protest against restructuring plan imposed on the loss-making airline by its parent company IAG. The restructuring plans involves as many as 4,500 job cuts, about 23% of the workforce.
UGT and CCOO officials announced that the first planned stoppage is December 14th, followed by a five-day period between December 17th and 21st. The unions are continuing to hold meetings with the view to formally declaring the strike with the Labour Ministry on Thursday. Union representatives said the calendar of stoppages was drawn up with the aim of avoiding weekends and bank holidays.
The pilots union Sepla cannot join the stoppages as it is bound by an ongoing arbitration process aimed at resolving their dispute with the management over the creation of Iberia’s low-cost carrier Iberia Express.