The planned industrial action at all of Portugal’s airports is to start on Friday July 1st and continue over the weekend as talks have failed to produce a solution to long-running labour problems.
A meeting earlier in the week between airport workers’ unions and Minister Pedro Marqeus resulted in an impasse so the planned 'biggest ever airport strike' is to go ahead on one of the busiest periods of the year for tourism.
The strike will affect all of Portugal’s airports and primarily is due to grievances raised by Unions SITAVA, STTAMP and SIMAMEVIP about Ryanair’s new baggage handling company Groundlink which “is operating fraudulently” and fails to respect legislation covering working practices.
The unions say Groundlink is not complying with the rules: Ryanair say that it refuses to pay for outdated and wasteful working practices and certainly will not pay for staff when they are doing nothing in between flights.
This grievance, added to the usual demands over pay and conditions, has contributed to the current inability of unions and management to settle differences.
Whoever is right and wrong in this tussle, it will be the airlines which lose out from cancelled flights and the passengers who will suffer at one of the busiest times of the year by the mass walkout of staff from Portway, Groundforce and short-term contracted airport employees.
It does not help the flow of holiday flights that the French Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) are holding their traditional summertime strikes with further industrial action planned to hit holidaymakers and busy budget airlines.
Six months of strike action has been attributed to a dispute between the French government and ATC unions over staffing levels and pay.
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The best source of information for travellers is airline websites. These usually will have links outlining which flights are affected by strike action.
For those trying to start a package holiday, contact the tour operator.
Am I entitled to a refund if my airline cancels my flight?
Yes. European Union regulations require airlines to offer you either a full refund of the unused parts of your tickets, or to re-route you to your destination, as soon as possible. Some airlines may also allow you to rebook your flights for a later date at no extra cost. Although the UK has voted to leave the EU, these laws remain in place until the Government negotiates otherwise. The same applies to the compensation below, too.
Will I get compensation?
Airlines are not liable to pay the additional cash compensation set out by EU regulations because they are not directly responsible for the disruption.
What should I do if I am stranded abroad?
EU regulations make it clear that, when a flight with an EU airline or from an EU airport is cancelled, an airline is liable to pay for the cost of a hotel and subsistence for all those stranded as a result, until a replacement flight is provided. Should your airline advise you to buy your own food and accommodation, keep all receipts, and keep such costs to a reasonable minimum, before making a claim when you get back to Britain.
What about package holidays?
Those passengers on package holidays who are stranded in a destination should be looked after by their tour operator, and the operator is legally obliged to get them home. Customers will usually be allowed to stay in their original hotel, or will be moved to one of a similar standard on a half-board or all-inclusive basis. The exact situation will depend on the operator’s booking terms and conditions.
My flight has been cancelled - can I cancel my accommodation?
If you have booked a hotel, a villa or other accommodation independently of your travel arrangements (ie not as part of a package holiday) your contract is directly with the hotel or villa and you are responsible for any cancellation. If you can’t get there, you will have to do your best to persuade them to give you a refund or rebook for a later date – but they are not obliged to do this and you may lose money.
Am I covered by my travel insurance?
Your policy may pay out a small amount for very long delays (usually over 12 hours), but not usually enough to pay for more than a meal or two. A few policies have cover for a “consequential loss”, such as a hotel booking made independently. You will need to check the terms and conditions which apply to your policy directly with your insurer.
(Q&As from 'The Telegraph')
