Ground handling operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport could face disruptions during the busy summer travel season after workers employed by Swissport announced four days of partial strike action over working conditions, staffing levels and workplace safety.
The strike has been called by the CCOO union branch representing Swissport employees at Palma Airport. The planned work stoppages are scheduled for July 28 and August 1, 4 and 8, with employees set to strike from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and again from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day.
According to the union, the industrial action is aimed at securing improvements in occupational safety, work organization and employee conditions. CCOO says workers have continued to provide high-quality ground handling services for several international airlines despite facing low pay and limited resources.
Workers from Swissport denounce what they describe as an "unsustainable" working situation, marked by staff shortages, excessive workloads, and violations of the right to rest.
Swissport's Palma workforce provides ground handling services for airlines including TUI, Condor, TAP Air Portugal, Air Canada, Etihad Airways and DAT, making the planned strikes a potential concern for passengers traveling through one of Spain's busiest airports during the height of the holiday season.
Among the union's key demands are stronger measures to protect employees from extreme summer temperatures, increased staffing levels, improved work organization, full implementation of the collective agreement covering the ground handling sector, salary equalization, regularized pay for subcontracted workers and additional compensation for employees performing higher-level responsibilities.
CCOO has also criticized Swissport's proposal to maintain 99% minimum services during the strike, arguing that such a requirement would significantly undermine workers' ability to exercise their right to industrial action. The union said the right to protest "cannot be reduced to a figure on paper."
Despite announcing the strike dates, CCOO said it remains open to negotiations and hopes an agreement can still be reached before the planned work stoppages begin. The union said it is seeking a solution that delivers meaningful improvements in both working conditions and operational organization for Swissport employees.
If the dispute is not resolved, travelers passing through Palma Airport on the strike dates could experience delays to check-in, baggage handling and other ground services, particularly during the scheduled periods of industrial action.
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