Portugal air traffic strikes 19-21st august

[howshouldibehave]

We are flying into Portugal next Friday and have just read there are probable strikes-I could cry!

Is anyone else flying out there next weekend? What happens in this sort of situation-is everything cancelled for the whole duration of the strike?

Probably too early to tell - I tend to keep a bit of an eye on ths sort of thing and I've not yet seen anything beyond what's in the MSM, which isn't a lot.

Generally the level of disruption will depend on what percentage of controllers go on strike and how the authorities respond.

It might be possible some minimum service level is enforced, in which case some flights will operate but there will be delays, through to really major disruption.

You'll have to keep an eye on the news and look for updates.

I'm flying back on the 19th so god knows what will happen! I'm making sure I only take cabin baggage.

I'm flying there next Saturday and I'm nervous to see what will happen but it can't be helped.

Is your flight morning or evening? I heard it's possible they will only strike during a certain time frame each day so any flights outside of these hours may be fine. I'm expecting lots of delays!!

We are late afternoon on the 19th. I am nervous too!

@howshouldibehave
Just looked around at some sources.

My initial comment/observation was (I think now mistakenly) in the context of Air Traffic (Control) strikes, of which I'm hearing nothing.

OTOH there's forecast of possibly quite series disruption at some airports (ten listed) due to action by ground staff unless something can be negotiated at the last minute.

traveltomorrow.com/strikes-to-impact-portugals-main-airports-in-late-august/

thepointsguy.com/news/portugal-airport-worker-strike/

I think it'll be a case of keeping fingers crossed and an eye on the news into the run up to this and TBH if ground crew are involved travelling hand baggage only isn't the worse idea in the world if you can do it.

We have paid for hold luggage and not cabin luggage so I would imagine it would cost a small fortune to add cabin bags now.

Do these things ever get called off?!

....Do these things ever get called off?!

Sometimes, either a last minute settlement or the employer finds a legal means to stop or at least delay the industrial action (that has happened in the UK, not sure how common it is elsewhere with different labour legislation).

Finger crossed it works out Ok for you and the others who have posted here.

Yes, they get called off all the time. I was travelling to France last month where strikes were due. No issues at all.

There was certainly local industrial action by ground staff at CDG (Paris, Roissy) a few weeks back...some flights cancelled etc, but nothing widespread.

I have to say in my experience over the years sometimes the action gets cancelled but other times it very definitely does go ahead... .

I've been caught up in a few aviation related strikes over they years and if that happens it's a case of hoping there's at least some form of minimum level of service being operated and being prepared for disruption and long days.

Worse case I had was getting home a day late.

Above all hopefully the Portuguese action won't happen.

Great......!!

We're flying in on 21st Aug and have paid for baggage.

We are due to fly out on 19th late afternoon too, where can we find more information on the airports/flights affected? My kids will be so disappointed if the holiday is cancelled 😞

I joined a Facebook group for Portuguese holiday goers, a lady was asking for updates on the strike... one person said they phoned Jet2 and they claimed they knew nothing about the strikes and they are usually informed of situations like that so they can update passengers.

Another person phoned Tui and they also said similar. Not sure what to believe!! Sounds unlikely they wouldn't have heard about it

This has been in the aviation industry press and covered in more local sources..for example (beware these may not be fully up to date):

thepointsguy.com/news/portugal-airport-worker-strike/

www.portugalresident.com/airports-strike-on-way-affecting-10-airports-in-portugal-madeira-and-azores/

Flight cancellations tend to be down to the airline and get decided/announced almost on the day..until then they probably hope the dispute will be settled, I wouldn't expect airlines to already be announcing cancellations.

List here (from one of the above links of airports that might be effected:

"
Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon.
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) in Porto.
Faro Airport (FAO).
Beja Airport (BYJ).
Ponta Delgada Airport João Paulo II (PDL).
Horta Airport (HOR).
Santa Maria Airport (SMA).
Aeroporto das Flores (FLW).
Madeira Airport (FNC).
Porto Santo Airport (PXO)."

@pastelyellow0

Sounds unlikely they wouldn't have heard about it

It's quite possible a (possible) dispute like this a week plus ahead is not on anybody's radar at call centre level.

At a higher level within the airline I'd be pretty sure it has been heard about.

@pastelyellow0 I checked with TUI in branch, they didn’t know anything about it either! Just said keep an eye on emails. Said there was no point checking at head office too.

Having worked for an airline I can promise you shop floor staff, even customer service staff generally don't look ahead and try and follow every single possible instance of potential industrial action around an international airline network, and head office don't spend their time sending out e-mails on a just in case basis with over a week to go - there's little/no point.

The way these things normally work is either a settlement/agreement to keep talking is made, in which case no strike, and passengers hear nothing...or at some point negotiations fall apart and the authorities in the country involved will announce they need to reduce flights to some level, and that really can happen with less than 48 or even 24 hours notice.

It's only then that the operations people at the airlines will really look in great detail at the flying programme and decide whether to proactively cancel flights, and/or struggle on trying to fly some form of schedule into/out of wherever is involved.

if you follow SINTAC's tweets (Union involved) , or even Portuguese newspapers, you'll probably be better informed near term than most people in Head Office at TUI, Jet2 or whoever

twitter.com/SintacSindicato/status/1556684497684414464

www.dinheirovivo.pt/empresas/greve-nos-aeroportos-sindicatos-reunem-com-ana-com-esperanca-de-entendimento-15078348.html

I live in Portugal and it now looks as though SINTAC are planning strikes 26/27/28th August….

AIR TRAVEL – PORTWAY WORKERS MOVE FORWARD WITH THREE DAY STRIKE AT END OF MONTH
The National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC) advanced today with a strike notice, which covers Portway workers at Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports, for 26, 27 and 28 August.
At issue is the HR [human resources] policy adopted over the last few years by Portway, a company owned by the VINCI Group, “of confrontation and devaluation of workers through consecutive breaches of the Company Agreement, disciplinary confrontation, lack of salary updates, misrepresentation of performance appraisals that prevent salary progressions and bad faith in negotiations,” the union said in a statement.
The notice foresees the general stoppage of workers of the ground assistance company, at Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports, starting at 00:00 on August 26 and ending at 24:00 on August 28.
SINTAC also accuses the company of promoting a “climate of psychological terror, where threats proliferate and disciplinary proceedings are instituted, creating social instability unparalleled in the company's history”.
According to the union, “the company persists that the assessments carried out in 2019 and 2020 are still valid, having consequently blocked career progression in about 90% of its workers”.
SINTAC also claims 100% payment of holidays to all workers and immediate salary updates, taking inflation into account.

Is that instead of strikes on the 19-21st?

Looks like it's same Union, different strikes to me but somebody else closer to the scene may know. Looking at the press release and other stuff in the media best I can work out:

The first strike (19th-21st) is SINTEC verses ANA at ten airports,
Then there's now a second one on the cards(26th-28th) which is SINTEC verses Portway at four airports..

More than happy to be corrected.

As for who is who:

"ANA Aeroportos de Portugal is the airport authority of Portugal. The authority manages various airports including Portugal's largest airport, Lisbon Airport."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANA_Aeroportos_de_Portugal

"Portway Handling de Portugal S.A. is a ground handling company present in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Beja airports" (From linkedin)

Looks like the French VINCI Group might have an interest in both disputes.

This seems to suggest the strikes have been called off

Posted to soon, that's very good news if confirmed.

Might be my browser but I only see reference to the first strike ( the one vs. ANA).

Hopefully if it hasn't already a fix can be found for the one involving Portway

I can’t find it anywhere other than the ‘Safe Communities’ Facebook page so not sure how confirmed it is?!

Following

Nothing found yet here either.

No mention on SINTAC's (BTW excuse miss spell upthread) facebook page or anything that I can find from them on Twitter...nothing I can find from ANA yet either..

m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077540358878