LISBON (Reuters) -Widespread flight cancellations are expected in Portugal on December 11, a union official said on Monday, when a general strike over proposed labor law reforms will likely ground most planes.
“It will be very difficult to operate flights on December 11. Most flights at Portuguese airports will be grounded, with only minimum services running,” said Ricardo Penarroias, head of the SNPVAC union which represents airline cabin workers.
The union said on Monday it would join a general strike on December 11, which was called earlier this month by unions over proposals to make dismissals easier and working hours more flexible. General strikes are typically joined by public-sector employees, especially teachers as well as workers in the health and transport sectors.
SNPVAC represents about 5,000 cabin crew, most of them at TAP Air Portugal, now in the middle of a privatisation process. The remaining work at carriers including Ryanair, EasyJet and Azores Airlines.
Penarroias told Reuters 82% of union workers at an assembly on Monday voted to join the strike.
He said the strike notice had already been filed with the airlines and Labour Ministry, as required by law. The government has to decree the need for minimum services during the strike.
Portugal’s minority centre-right government unveiled plans in September for a major labour law overhaul. It later said it was open to dialogue, but the country’s two main umbrella unions called a general strike.
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Joan Faus and Cynthia Osterman)
