The Faro airport workers who were sacked unceremoniously from their jobs operating air bridges, are taking their former employer to court.
The 12 workers say they were informed of their dismissal on April 20th by Portway and had to leave on the same day, an attitude by management that they claim is "atrocious" and which they consider illegal.
Speaking to Lusa, João Marques, one of the workers who participated in a demonstration held today at airport departures said that it was all a "manoeuvre" by management to stop possible strikes during the busy summer period.
"After thirteen years of service, they put us on the street with no alternative, why could we not stay on and carry bags or push trolleys?" asks Marques, stressing that the workers were "eliminated" by a management that feared strikes which had not been notified or threatened.
João Marques, who was a supervisor, points out that the seven new employees who replaced those fired, belong to Sotecnica, company for which they themselves started working in 2002 when the air bridges were introduced.
During the demonstration, organized by the Union of Workers of the Aviation and Airports (SITAVA), workers were gathered near the departure area at Faro Airport with a banner proclaiming "Workers Portway/Vinci fighting against random redundancies."
Last week, the president of national airports operator ANA said the decision to terminate the Portway contract at Faro airport, which led to the dismissal of the 12 workers, was taken by the Faro airport director who wanted a service company with "greater reliability."
Portaway is owned by ANA and therefore, by the French Vinci Group which won the concession to operate ANA’s Portuguese airports. ANA therefore has terminated a contract with its own subsidiary.
The 12 workers were integrated into Portway in 2007 but never were given a professional status and were sacked and told to leave on the same day.
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