According to a report by ECO, the company is accusing the union of moving forward with the strike without first attempting dialogue.

“We want to assure our customers and passengers that robust contingency plans are already in place to ensure that possible disruptions are minimised,” says Rui Gomes, vice-president of Menzies Aviation in Portugal.

“We are deeply disappointed with the decision of some of our unions to immediately go on strike without first seeking to talk to us to find a joint solution and resolve this issue,” he added.

On August 14, Sttamp issued a strike notice, which covers all national airports, “from 00:00 hours on August 31, 2024, until midnight on September 1, 2024”. This Monday, it warned of “severe constraints at national airports, particularly Porto and Lisbon, the effects of which are currently completely unpredictable”, according to a note reported by Lusa. The union stated that there is “so far no negotiation development that would allow the strike to be called off”.

The ground handling services company is showing discomfort with the intention of renegotiating the company agreements recently signed. “About three months ago, when Menzies Aviation acquired Groundforce Portugal, we agreed a recovery plan for the company, with the acceptance of 98% of our creditors and the majority of employees. As part of this commitment, all unions signed the new Company Agreement, which includes wage conditions above the national guaranteed minimum wage”, says Rui Gomes. “Unfortunately, some unions, which represent only part of our workforce in Portugal, now intend to renegotiate the terms agreed less than three months ago”, he adds.

“In addition to the significant change in the commitments established in the current Company Agreement, this situation is highly disruptive during a period of great activity for aviation in Portugal and could delay the recovery plan that we have implemented”, says the vice-president of Menzies Aviation Portugal.

Sttamp justifies the strike call at the company, which handles flights for airlines such as TAP, with “the existence of base salaries below the national minimum wage”, “the systematic use of workers from temporary employment agencies”, “overtime work in breach of the legal limits in force” or “successive changes to working hours outside the provisions of the Company Agreement”.

Menzies Aviation completed the acquisition of a 50.1% stake in Groundforce Portugal in June. The remaining 49.9% belongs to TAP.