Strike at TAP with ″total adherence″ in the early morning

The union that called for the TAP crew strike reported that the adhesion was total, until around 8.30 am, having only departed flights of minimum services or from Portugália.

“The balance is premature, a TAP operation starts around 5.30 am, what we know to date is that no flight has left without minimum services or Portugália, so until now the adhesion is total”told the Lusa agency the president of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), Ricardo Penarroias, at Lisbon airport, whose operation, in the early hours of the morning, was working normally.

TAP had already canceled 360 flights in the two days of the strike and had also given customers the possibility to change their bookings free of charge.

Asked about possible negotiations with the company, to avoid scheduling more strike days until January 31, as already announced by the union, Ricardo Penarroias said that he still there was no contact from TAP in this regardbut reiterated the union’s availability for dialogue.

“We are always available, but to make meetings to bring a handful of nothing or to go around once more in exchanges of pennants later, it is not worth it. We wait for the administration, […] whenever you want, ask to meet with us, we are fully available”, said the union leader, pointing out that what is needed on the part of TAP “is a proactive position” to dialogue “in a constructive way”.

TAP crew today fulfill the first of two days of strike, convened by SNPVAC, due to lack of agreement in the negotiations for the new company agreement. The crew members decided, on Tuesday, to maintain the strike and also approved the scheduling of at least five more days of stoppage until January 31st.

In the motion voted at the general meeting of members, on Tuesday, the SNPVAC considers that “TAP preferred to ‘pay to see’ the effects of the strike, rather than replacing the crew with what it unilaterally took from them”.

In turn, the executive president of TAP, Christine Ourmières-Widener, said she regretted the union’s decision, stating that she was available to try to find solutions that would avoid further disruptions.

TAP and the unions are in negotiations for the revision of the Company Agreement (AE), within the scope of the restructuring plan.

TAP proposes cuts in wages and flexible schedules, among other measures.

Dissatisfied, the TAP crew members, at an emergency general meeting of the SNPVAC, on November 3rd, decided to go ahead with a strike on December 8th and 9th, as well as “immediately reject the proposal for a new company agreement (AE)” presented by the airline, which they consider “absolutely unacceptable and manifestly reductive”.

Crew members want the current company agreement to be the starting point and basis for any future negotiations.