The second day of strike by Groundforce workers, a ground handling company of the Globalia group, which in the Canary Islands affects about 1,000 employees, has caused "numerous" flight delays and difficulties in baggage management on the islands, according to CCOO reported this Wednesday.
In a statement, CCOO has recalled that it is an indefinite strike that affects twelve airports, among them those of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with scheduled stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in three time slots: from 5:00 to 07:00, from 11:00 to 17:00 and from 22:00 to 00:00 hours.
CCOO has pointed out that the staff not affected by the minimum services has mostly supported the strike, while describing them as "abusive" and criticizing that the protection of a high number of flights is limiting the effective exercise of the right to strike.
During the first day, significant incidents were recorded in the 'handling' operation, with more than 40 flights that departed without luggage and a saturation of the sorting areas, a situation that has also been reflected in the Canary Islands airports.
CCOO has insisted that the strike is due to the company's non-compliance with the collective agreement, especially regarding the salary update linked to the accumulated inflation since 2022.
The restrictive interpretation applied by the management is causing a loss of purchasing power among the staff, in addition to generating internal inequalities by applying cuts in the agreed increases for certain professional groups, states the union.
The conflict takes on a special dimension in the Canary Islands, where air transport is essential for mobility and the economy.