Article written by Vasilica Margalina for AirlinesTravel!
Iberia, Spain's state-owned airline, has announced it plans to lay off about 4.000 employees and lower wages by 35%. The unions reacted quickly and called, according to the Spanish media, the largest strike in the company's history.
Iberia employees entered the second week of strike today. They organized a demonstration at the T4 Terminal at Barajas Airport, Madrid, trying to paralyze the activity of the entire airport. They are protesting against collective redundancies, which will affect 3.807 employees, whose negotiations will end on 14 in March and are not at all optimistic.
The Iberia Group will cancel, between March 4 and 8, 2013, almost 1.300 flights, of which 431 operated by Iberia, 100 by Iberia Express, 316 operated by Vueling and 434 Air Nostrum.
The Spanish airline company managed to distribute 38.000 from the approximately 40.000 of passengers affected to other flights, and about 2.000 remained without a fast flight solution. They will be able to choose to change the flight date or refund the amount paid on the ticket.
The strike affects both domestic and international flights. However, it is foreseen that the connection between the Spanish islands and the peninsula will be affected. You can find all the flights affected by the strike at the following links: 4 March, 5 March, 6 March, 7 March, 8 March.