- Title: SPAIN: Iberia staff and police scuffle on first day of airline strike in Madrid
- Date: 18th February 2013
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 18, 2013) (REUTERS) PEOPLE RUSHING PAST POLICE VAN, DEMONSTRATION GATHERED BELOW UNDERPASS OUTSIDE TERMINAL 4 AT BARAJAS AIRPORT MAN WITH HIS HANDS UP BEING LED BY POLICE PAST CROWD ANGRY PROTESTERS CHANTING RIOT POLICE ARGUING WITH DEMONSTRATORS WOMAN BEING ALLOWED PAST POLICE LINE RIOT POLICE PUSHING DEMONSTRATOR BACK VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHAN
- Embargoed: 5th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Crime,Employment,Politics,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVACANT144B1SINIGASBROKJ81RT
- Story Text: Workers at loss-making Spanish flag carrier Iberia scuffled with police as they tried to make their way into Barajas Airport terminal 4 to protest against job cuts on the first of a five-day strike that began at midnight on Monday (February 18).
Staff, including baggage handlers, pilots and air stewards, will hold three five-day strikes in February and March to protest management plans to axe 3,807 jobs and cut salaries at the airline.
Staff demonstrating on Monday (February 18), began marching at 0700GMT and walked for eight kilometres on the highway leading to the airport before arriving at Barajas terminal 4.
Angered by the threat of losing their jobs and severe pay cuts of up to 60 percent for those who remain, over two thousands workers of the Spanish flag carrier chanted and vented their anger against British Airways.
Iberia has cancelled 415 flights between Monday and Friday, although a total of around 1,200 flights operated by various airlines will be grounded because of the lack of handling services at Spanish airports.
The airline said 70,000 passengers would be affected by the first strike and that it had placed some customers on different flights, including those operated by different airlines, while proposing refunds and alternative travel dates for others. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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