The representatives of the Iberia airline decided not to come to Lanzarote to participate in the negotiation table convened by the public administrations to resolve the labor conflict and end the strike of the handling services. La Voz contacted Iberia's press office this Thursday and took it for granted that no one would come from Madrid, but despite the fact that we published it, it was hard to believe that with the Government of the Canary Islands in the middle, through the General Directorate of Labor, and the Spanish Government, through the Labor Inspectorate, in addition to the local administrations, they would dare to leave not only the public institutions and the Strike Committee stranded, but an entire Island that demands the protection of its interests.
The curious thing is that yesterday, after the meeting held by the other interlocutors at the Cabildo headquarters, we called Iberia again and they again assured us that they were not called to any meeting and that they could not assure that they would come next week, as the Canarian and Spanish governments will ask them to, until they have the call in their possession.
However, how is it understood that Mr. Gregorio Abad Cano, Deputy Director of Operations of Iberia, and Fernando Sarmentero Vidal, Director of Airports of the company, who is the head of handling services, have canceled their reservations on flight 844 this Thursday, whose route is Madrid - Lanzarote and which, according to the itinerary, landed on the Island at 6:30 p.m. Were they coming as tourists and decided to go to another destination?
It is clear that for some reason, presumably due to the latest resolutions of the Labor Inspectorate known on the same Thursday that give the reason to the workers, they decided to cancel the visit.
The company was left as a liar because the Director of Labor of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pedro Tomás Pino, said in the press conference that Iberia had been summoned by the Executive and that therefore it had full knowledge of the meeting to negotiate in Lanzarote. In addition, it must be said that the territorial head of the Labor Inspectorate, Juan de Dios Fernández, opened a gap in his vacations to participate in the meeting and, like everyone else, was amazed.
Unanimous rejection
The voices of rejection of Iberia's attitude were forceful. The president of the First Island Corporation, Inés Rojas, described the company's decision as an "authentic lack of respect towards public institutions and an irresponsibility towards this Island." Likewise, all the public representatives and unions cited repudiated the fact. Before starting the dialogue table, the news was confirmed. The president of the Cabildo and the representatives of the Works Council had faces of visible concern, however, although at some point it was thought that the meeting could be canceled, it took place and with satisfactory results. Next Wednesday and Thursday there will be no strike and if Iberia does not want to dialogue, the competent labor authority will issue a mandatory award next Friday.
Backing for the strikers
The workers came out strengthened for a future negotiation. Iberia failed and they complied. The island director, Marcial Martín, the council president, Inés Rojas, and the director of Labor of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pedro Tomás Pino, publicly thanked the negotiating will of the Strike Committee and the gesture of suspending the stoppages next week. The president recognized the legitimate right of workers to pressure the company through the strike, but clarified that above any particular interest are those of the Island. In this way, he invited the strikers to make a major effort to end the nightmare.
The reaction of the Committee
For its part, the Strike Committee thanked the management of the public administrations and expressed its most energetic rejection of Iberia's attitude for considering that "it has mocked the institutions and the region." The spokesman, León Fajardo, urged the business community of Lanzarote to "turn the shotguns towards Iberia, which is the real culprit that this conflict continues to prolong." The Committee also demands that the Directorate of Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (AENA) pressure Iberia to sit down to negotiate and cease its unconditional support to the company in the mission of avoiding the effects of the strike by hiring temporary and interim staff irregularly.
The Iberia workers said they were aware of the damaging effect that the strike has on the tourism industry while asking for understanding for its continuation if the company insists on not negotiating. León Fajardo asked for the intervention of President Zapatero because he understands that with a call from him "Iberia moves".
Finally, the strikers pledged to take a "understanding attitude" with the Island, but as long as it does not clash head-on with their interests.
