Palma Airport strikes due to kick off this week in latest holiday blow for Brits

Majorcaairport is bracing for a "total standstill" as staff are set to stage a major protest that threatens to grind services to a halt on Friday.

Angry workers have announced plans for asignificant demonstration, aiming to bring the airport to a standstill in a way that could result in flight cancellations, extensive queues, and delays affecting both domestic and international routes.

The union has advised travellers to arrive at the airport earlier than usual and to verify their flight status with their airlines.

To add to the aviation woes, air traffic in Majorca experienced substantial delays since early morning, following a night of heavy rainfall and strong winds across the northwestern Mediterranean. Bad weather is also forecast for tomorrow morning, potentially doubling up the chaos caused by the strikes.

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The airport employees, united under the UGT trade union banner, are protesting against "suffocating" working conditions. They are calling for the establishment of a negotiation group that includes Spain's airport authority Aena, the government, and representatives of the workforce.

UGT has scheduled a three-hour protest at Palma Airport on July 25 to highlight what they call a "situation of unsustainable precariousness" within the Balearic air sector. The demonstration aims to draw attention to the poor working conditions that they allege are unacceptable.

Although the July 25 protest will be limited in time, the organizers do not rule out further action if there is no progress. This worries airport authorities and airlines, as Son Sant Joan Airport is one of the busiest in Europe during the summer months.

The unions argue that external companies providing various services are "abusing" workers' rights. They assert that employees are mistreated, holiday schedules are mishandled, and there is a lack of opportunities for career advancement.

Furthermore, the unions are demanding the recruitment of skilled personnel for supervisory and managerial positions, as well as the provision of proper vehicles and work tools, particularly considering the high temperatures.

They insist that staff require uniforms which "respect their dignity", with clothing tailored to harsh weather conditions, including waterproof jackets for periods of torrential rain.

UGT has directly pointed the finger at firms including Swissport, Groundforce, Menzies, Easyjet, Pasarelas, Eurowings, Jet2, Ryanair and South, amongst others, for employment practices which it deems "close to exploitation".

The ongoing upgrades at the airport have also drawn criticism, with trade unions claiming the construction work seems never-ending and is negatively affecting workers' health and safety. The union is also calling for complimentary parking for employees and the establishment of a new staff canteen offering reasonably-priced meals.

UGT holds airport operator AENA accountable for all these failings and cautions that unless discussions to address these matters intensify, the demonstrations will persist. The union has secured backing from the Balearic government, which last week called for immediate intervention at the airport after acknowledging "the build-up of incidents" is damaging its tourism image.

Authorities state that delays, cancellations and overbooking at Palma airport in Majorca are generating an increasing number of grievances and "generate widespread discomfort and project a very negative image of the islands."

They have also raised concerns about lengthy queues at security checkpoints and the ongoing construction at the airport, coupled with the "collapse in accesses and transit areas."

"From Consumer Affairs, it is stressed that air traffic in the Balearic Islands is not only key for tourism but also an essential public service for the connectivity of citizens, especially in an island territory such as the Balearic Islands. However, delays, cancellations and overbooking cause a growing volume of complaints, generate widespread discomfort and project a very negative image of the islands," a government spokesperson declared.

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"The Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Health considers it essential that the competent aviation authorities are extremely vigilant and control during the high season and ensure compliance with European Regulation 261/2004, which protects the rights of passengers in the event of service interruptions.

"Likewise, the General Directorate denounces that the execution of works at Palma airport in the middle of high season generates a context of general discomfort, collapse in accesses and transit areas, and long waits at security controls, with direct damage to both passengers and staff working in the facilities.

"For all these reasons, Consumer Affairs calls on the central government to adopt measures to guarantee the proper functioning of air traffic in the Balearic Islands and protect the rights of passengers and the safety of users."

AENA, which runs the airport, has been contacted for comment.