Earlier this month, Portugal’s civil aviation workers’ union (Sintac) issued a three-day strike notice for 26-28 August, the UK bank holiday weekend, after postponing planned strike action in April to allow for further negotiations.
However, despite talks at the weekend with government officials, no resolution was found, although reports in the Portuguese press suggest the union would seek further negotiations prior to the walkout. Sintac said it had done everything it could to find a resolution.
However, Portway – which is owned by French airport operator Vinci – fired back on Wednesday (24 August), accusing Sintac of jeopardising planned discussions in September. The ground handler, which serves Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal airports, also warned of the likely impacts of the strike in a statement issued to TTG.
"Portway regrets the impacts this situation may cause to passengers and, given the impact that the strike may have on airport operations, we advise travellers to find out about their flights with the airlines before heading to the airports," the statement read.
Portway said the union’s motives for the strike were not clear and "did not correspond to reality". "Moreover, the call for this strike comes in the middle of an ongoing negotiation process that had already scheduled meetings for the whole month of September," it continued.
"Calling a strike at this time of intense movement in national airports is unacceptable, as it will affect the lives of thousands of people and the flow of essential goods to some regions of Portugal, also compromising the recovery of the tourism sector, the national economy and potentially the very sustainability of Portway.
"It will certainly affect the company’s ability to translate the long-awaited financial recovery and better conditions for workers. However, the company believes in the responsibility of its workers."
Portuguese media outlet Expresso this week reported the government had decreed there should be provision for a minimum of one daily return flight between Lisbon and Funchal during the strike and another between Porto and Funchal.
