The indefinite strike called by the CGT among the workers of Groundforce Barcelona began this Monday August 4 at the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The strike affects the ground handling staff, responsible for services such as check-in, passenger boarding, flight coordination, and other operations on the platform, so some flights may experience delays or incidents in the coming days.
In light of this situation, the Government of Catalonia reminds that it is the airline that is responsible for informing passengers about any changes to their flight and managing the available alternatives in case of cancellation or delay. These are the main points you should know if you plan to travel from Barcelona airport.
Which workers are called to the strike?
The call affects the staff of Groundforce Barcelona, a company that provides ground handling services to numerous airlines operating at Barcelona-El Prat airport.
As explained by the CGT, the strike is called due to the "inaction" of management in the face of the "serious deterioration of risk prevention and labor health conditions" at the base. The union denounces "unsustainable" workloads, high staff turnover, high levels of fatigue and stress, as well as organizational problems and lack of training for new hires.
Which airlines may be affected?
Groundforce provides ground handling services to numerous companies operating in terminals T1 and T2 of the airport. Among them are:
- Air Europa
- Lufthansa
- Air France
- KLM
- Qatar Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- ITA Airways
- United Airlines
- Finnair
- Etihad Airways
- SAS
- Air Arabia
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Air China
- Saudia Airlines
- Asiana Airlines
- Air Transat
- Luxair
- El Al
That an airline appears on this list does not imply that all its flights will be affected, as it will depend on the operations of each day and the application of minimum services.
What should I do before going to the airport?
The Government of Catalonia recommends passengers planning to fly from Barcelona:
- Check the flight status before leaving home.
- Review the airline's information channels to see if there are any schedule changes or cancellations.
- Arrive at the airport earlier than usual, as there may be delays in check-in and boarding.
What are the minimum services?
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has set minimum services to guarantee part of the activity during the strike.
Specifically, the following must operate:
- 80% of flights between the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla during the month of August.
- 58% of flights between Spanish cities and abroad, as well as peninsular flights when the public transport alternative exceeds five hours.
- 35% of flights between peninsular cities when there is a public transport alternative of less than five hours.
What rights do you have if your flight is canceled?
If the flight is canceled, the passenger can choose between:
- The refund of the ticket price.
- An alternative transport to their final destination.
While waiting for the new flight, the airline must provide assistance when necessary, including food and drink, means of communication, and, if the departure occurs the next day or later, accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel, in accordance with Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
And if the flight is delayed?
When the delay reaches two hours or more, the passenger has the right to receive assistance from the airline. If the delay exceeds five hours, they may choose between requesting a refund of the ticket or accepting alternative transport to their destination, under the same conditions as in the case of cancellation.
Do I have the right to financial compensation?
The Generalitat states that if the cancellation or delay is due to a strike by subcontracted personnel of the airline, the passenger may be entitled to financial compensation, the amount of which will depend on the distance of the flight, in addition to the rights to assistance, refund, or alternative transport provided for in European regulations.
Why has the strike been called?
The CGT argues that the management of Groundforce Barcelona has not taken measures to correct the deterioration of working conditions and risk prevention.
The union denounces that the staff works with excessive workloads, a high turnover of personnel, and lack of training for new workers, circumstances that, in their opinion, increase physical fatigue, stress, and the risk of accidents. For this reason, they have called for an indefinite strike that affects some of the essential services for the daily operation of Barcelona-El Prat Airport.