The Strike Committee accepted the proposal of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and made public its decision to extend the suspension of the protest days until next Wednesday, the scheduled day for the second negotiating meeting between Iberia, the Government of the Canary Islands and the Labor Inspectorate, and which will also be attended by Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aena).
The workers' spokesman, León Fajardo, argued that they are committed to mediation, especially if the presence of the competent labor authority is guaranteed, as is the case. For its part, Iberia informed this newsroom that the company has the custom of attending all official calls it receives in writing, which suggests that its managers will be in Lanzarote again.
Permanent hiring of 50 employees
The workers will continue to defend the permanent hiring of 50 employees and remain hopeful of negotiating with the airline, even though Iberia has stated that the main point of contention is non-negotiable. "We prefer to negotiate because we know the collateral damage of the strike," noted the union representative.
The letter sent by the Strike Committee to the Cabildo says that, once again making a gesture of collective responsibility, it accepts the proposal made by the presidency to suspend the strike days of next Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The letter from the Strike Committee refers to the fact that it is the response to a text dated August 24, by which it is informed of the steps taken by the First Island Corporation in view of the new meeting of the negotiating table on August 31.
Ministry of Development's position
In any case, the strikers continue to believe that the key to resolving the conflict lies in the position adopted by the Ministry of Development in its capacity as responsible for Spanish airports through the public entity Aena. "If the Ministry does not pressure Iberia to negotiate with the resolutions of the Labor Inspectorate in hand, there is no way to fix the situation," Fajardo stressed.
Two months of strike
August 26 marks two months of the handling services strike. The damage to the island's economy is incalculable. In addition, the losses, not yet quantified, of Iberia and the physical and economic wear and tear of the strikers themselves are evident.
For the workers, the main damage to the company has been the deterioration of its image at national and international level because media from all over the country and abroad have been interested in the disastrous consequences of the strike. According to the employees, if Iberia felt any concern for Lanzarote, it would have sat down to negotiate since June 26, the day the indefinite protest began.
Iberia workers were already on strike for nine months in 2002 and part of 2003. However, the damage caused by the current stoppages is incomparable to that of the past, even though the previous protest lasted longer. For the moment, because as things stand, it is not known whether the current one could be extended in time. In two months, the repercussions of the strike have been tremendously negative for the image of the Island as a quality tourist destination. The Strike Committee admits that this time the support of the workers has been more decisive.
The management of the Cabildo
The Cabildo of Lanzarote, with the accidental president at the head, has managed to get the Iberia Strike Committee at the airport to maintain the suspension of the stoppages planned for the coming days.
After the meeting held this Tuesday between the Canarian Government, Aena and the Cabildo, Manuel Fajardo sent a letter to the representatives of the workers of the handling services of the airline, urging them to postpone the strike days until next Wednesday, August 31, date on which a meeting is also scheduled between all the parties involved in the conflict, at 10:30 am in the Plenary Hall of the Casa Cabildo.
The Corporation highlights that the response of the Strike Committee, in a new gesture of coherence and sensitivity on its part, has been positive, so the suspension of the stoppages is confirmed. There is no doubt that this is a further step in the solution of this complicated confrontation of positions, says a press release.
Restore normality
In the words of Manuel Fajardo, "from the highest institution of the Island we are doing everything in our power so that the airport of Lanzarote can return to normal and so that the parties involved finally reach a satisfactory agreement for all and, especially, for the good image of our land".
