Iberia proposes to fire 1,727 workers and create new company after longshoremen’s strike | Economy

Iberia proposed to the unions to create a ground handling company (handling skills) is 100% owned by IAG – the holding company that owns it – which will provide services to the entire group and ensure that all workers comply with the company agreement, the airline said. As such, it proposes a viability plan that includes measures to remove 1,727 people by December 31, 2026, through early retirement and incentive layoffs.

The decision comes after the Three Kings weekend strike and after talks last week with the UGT and CCOO, which defend workers’ needs handling skills continue to remain in Iberia’s orbit despite losing control of these services at the country’s eight main airports (all major except Barajas) in a competition cleared by Aena in September.

This result forced employees of companies that won competitions to switch to subrogation. handling skills at each of the airports it has lost (Bilbao, Malaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Barcelona, ​​Las Palmas and South Tenerife), but the unions want staff to continue working in Iberia. According to Iberia, with the creation of this company, which is 100% owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG) – which includes Iberia, British Airways, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level – all the rights of its employees will be guaranteed, because maintain the company agreement.

Third party services

According to Iberia, with the creation of this company, which is 100% owned by IAG, all the rights of its workers will be guaranteed, since the employees will retain the company’s agreement and will not become dependent on the operators who win the competition for the service. ramp The airline notes that given the narrow margins on ground services, high volume is required, which can only be achieved sustainably by outsourcing services to third parties.

With this offer, employees of Iberia Airport Services (a subsidiary of handling skills) will remain with this new company to provide services to the entire IAG group. It can also offer services to third parties en route (counter attendants), this segment has been liberalized, unlike the ramp segment (baggage management) which was decided in the tender.

At the same time, Iberia is proposing a viability plan for this new company that includes measures to lay off 1,727 people by December 31, 2026, through early retirement and incentive sick leave for workers aged 56 and over. Iberia Airport Services has approximately 8,000 employees.

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