The Union of civil aviation pilots confirmed this afternoon that its strike is off.
Nine of the twelve airline workers’ unions now have agreed to end their strike action planned for between Christmas and New Year.
The Economy Minister said this afternoon that there now will be a working group established to look at areas of discussion such as safeguarding workers' rights, including wages, that the unions want to see in place before any privatisation takes place.
The working group, led by Secretary of State Sergio Monteiro, should complete its work by mid-February 2015.
TAP workers had aimed to ground all flights on the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th of December.
The president of the Republic of Portugal signed the official document that enables the privatisation of TAP to go ahead. This was published on Wednesday in the Official Gazette to enter into force on 26 December.
The Civil Aviation Workers Union is maintaining its stoppage and announced today that its members would strike on the 27th and 30th. "The strike is maintained," read a statement released SINTAC, which also means that workers "should go to work in strict compliance with the law, working as normal, even under duress, with care and diligence in all tasks that may be required."
Three unions have not announced a return to work but will abide by the government’s civil requisition which ensures that TAP flights will be in the air on these strike days.
This is just as well as these unions represent 50% of the TAP workforce but it remains to be seen how many call in sick on strike days.
The three unions - the National Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC), the Worker Aviation and Airports Union (SITAVA) and the National Civil Aviation Crews Union (SNPVAC), "which together account for over 50% of TAP employees, will keep to the strike dates, respecting, however the civil requisition," read a union statement.
Comments
A lot of these problems stem from 'young' EU countries just starting out with labour protection laws. The unions never having had any connection with the owners and management and neither side with any culture or experience of reasoned discussion ... as we see even in mighty France, a recipe for disaster.
The point is someone has to sign off each plane as being sufficiently staffed and equipped to make the flight. Apparently a legal requirement,so many still will not fly.
But only the halfwitted cannot have noticed that so many of Portugal's stoppages, strikes or just legal public holidays over the years are strategically placed to, with a sicky day, extend weekend breaks.
This TAP strike arrangement giving at least a week of quality time with friends and family.
The off-sick routine "I feel a bit rough today, Guv'nor" is certain - but for how many? And what penalties can be invoked if the relevant union just calls more strikes to protect their workers rights to having 'sick days'?