The fourth day of strike by Groundforce ground staff has once again disrupted this Easter Monday the baggage operation at Barcelona airport, in the midst of the Easter Week return operation. At midday there were about 1,500 bags undelivered, a figure that could grow throughout the afternoon due to the forecast of more unprotected flights.
The incidents affect the loading and unloading of suitcases from flights scheduled during the holidays. The staff reduction can also affect the departure of some planes, as the movement of luggage progresses with fewer personnel on one of the busiest days of the year at El Prat.
The day with the most operations of the entire Holy Week
Barcelona airport has scheduled 1,102 flights for this Monday. It is the day with the most operations of the entire Easter Week campaign and also coincides with the return of thousands of passengers, which has multiplied the impact of the strike at the terminals.
The Groundforce strike started on March 30 and was repeated on April 1 and 3. The air sector unions maintain an indefinite partial strike called every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in three time slots. Among the claims are the alleged breach of the agreement and the loss of purchasing power of the staff.
Queues at check-in of several airlines
During some time slots this Monday, queues have been registered at the check-in counters of several companies with which Groundforce operates, including Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Air Europa, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. The lack of passenger service staff has forced a reorganization of part of the service at the counters.
"We have come with time and we will see what happens. But I take it calmly" - Qatar Airways traveler
"We haven't realized at any moment that there was a strike, we started to queue and, suddenly, they told us that we have to do the check-in ourselves" - Wilfredo, traveler from the United States
A protest that continues
Groundforce has more than 3,000 workers and provides ground assistance service to several airlines. The continuity of the strikes on alternate days maintains uncertainty about the evolution of the service at El Prat, especially on days of high influx like this Monday, when the volume of passengers and luggage places the airport at one of its annual activity peaks.