LISBON Reuters -- Cabin staff at Portugal's flag carrier TAP will go on strike on Thursday and Friday to demand higher wages after pay cuts under the airline's recovery plan, the SNPVAC said. It would schedule more walkouts later in the day.
We want to end the financial constraints that workers are subject to. The company's restructuring plan is unacceptable, especially given current inflation levels, SNPVAC head Ricardo Penarroias told Reuters on Tuesday.
The union had warned TAP of this week's possible labour action, which resulted in the cancellation of 360 flights by the company on those two days, and on Tuesday it confirmed that it would go ahead with the stoppage. Penarroias said cabin crews would also stage walkouts on at least five more days until the end of January, but the exact dates are yet to be determined.
The union is demanding the company not be freeze pay progression and respect maternity leave and rest periods.
Inflation in Europe has caused millions of workers to struggle with higher costs of living, prompting unions to demand pay increases, often via strikes and protests.
In Portugal, consumer price growth slowed in November, but inflation is still near three-decade highs.
TAP, which is under an EU approved 3.2 billion euro bailout plan, has advised passengers to reschedule their bookings. The plan will reduce the wages of most workers by up to 25% and reduce its fleet by cutting more than 2,900 jobs.
The company posted a rare net profit in the third quarter on strong revenue and helped by currency hedging, but said visibility for next year remained low.