Menzies aircraft ground handlers begin another four-day strike

Employees at aircraft ground handling group Menzies, formerly Groundforce, are on Friday beginning the second of four days of strikes, out of a total of five scheduled for the summer in Portugal, with the company and union trading accusations of unwillingness to engage in dialogue.

“This strike is the direct result of the intransigence of Menzies’ management, represented by its vice-president Rui Gomes, who opted for confrontation instead of dialogue, refusing solutions that respected workers’ rights and the interests of the country”, accused the Metal and Allied Industries Union (SIMA) in a statement released on Thursday.

For the union, “in the middle of the high tourist season, Menzies and TAP have chosen to turn their backs on their professionals, customers and all those who visit Portugal, with an arrogant, irresponsible and calculated attitude”.

A spokesperson for Menzies, in statements sent to the media, regretted “that the unions insist on promoting a distorted narrative based on unfounded allegations and demonstrate a lack of willingness to engage in fair and honest dialogue”.

“We also regret that a strike has been called on the basis of distorted and unfounded arguments, and we call for constructive dialogue to avoid unnecessary disruption to passengers at a time of peak activity in the aviation sector”, said British company Menzies Aviation, which owns 50.1% of the former Groundforce (the remaining 49.9% is still owned by TAP).

The strikes were called by SIMA and the Transport Union (ST) for an end to base salaries below the national minimum, better wages, compliance with the payment of night hours, among other demands, with the next period starting at midnight today and ending at midnight on Monday.

The first strike by ground staff, between 25 and 28 July, led to the cancellation of several dozen flights at Lisbon airport, delays and cases where planes departed with only passengers, without luggage or cargo, according to the union.

For the next strike, André Silva, SIMA spokesman, told Lusa that he expects a similar impact, although only on the days themselves will it be possible to gauge the extent of worker participation and disruption to operations.

Menzies considered that the minimum services defined by the Economic and Social Council are insufficient and reiterated that “robust” contingency plans have been implemented, in line with those minimum services “and with full respect for workers’ rights”.

SIMA reported last week that it had filed two criminal charges with the public prosecutor’s office against the management of SPdH/Menzies and TAP, one of them for violation of the Constitution of the Republic and the Strike Law, “based on the direct replacement of striking workers, unilateral changes to schedules, suspension of breaks during periods of extreme heat, and various forms of repression and illegitimate pressure on workers”, and another “for payment of base salaries below the national minimum wage, a serious and unacceptable violation of Portuguese labour law”.

In statements sent at the time, Menzies said it would not comment on legal matters, assuring that it acts “strictly in accordance with the law” and its contractual obligations, “maintaining a firm commitment to fair labour practices and open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders”.

Strikes are scheduled until the last weekend of August, on all days between 15 and 18 August, 22 and 25 August and 29 August and 1 September.