SPAIN: Heavy police presence at Madrid airport ahead of Iberia workers' demonstration

Record ID: 341095

  • Title: SPAIN: Heavy police presence at Madrid airport ahead of Iberia workers' demonstration
  • Date: 22nd February 2013
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 22, 2013) (REUTERS) POLICE VANS PARKED OUTSIDE TERMINAL 4 AT BARAJAS AIRPORT POLICE VANS POLICE COMING OUT OF VANS VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING BY VANS VARIOUS OF POLICE VANS PARKED AT OVERPASS LEADING TO AIRPORT VARIOUS OF POLICE ENTERING TERMINAL POLICE WATCHING OVER CHECK-IN AREA VARIOUS OF POLICE INSIDE TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHEMA PEREZ, UGT UNION REPRESENTATIVE, SAYING: "I'll tell you, it's either a mortgage or a blank cheque. We don't want our pay cut or to lose our benefits which we have earned over the years through various agreements so that in two years we all get fired and the company gets closed down." VARIOUS OF POLICE INSIDE TERMINAL AND PASSENGERS PASSING BY
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Business,Economy,Employment,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA74A5IV222VC2H5D7SQFOMGSCD
  • Story Text: Approximately 300 police were deployed to Barajas Airport in Madrid on Friday (February 22) ahead of a demonstration planned for 1100GMT where Iberia staff will protest against a restructuring plan that will axe 3807 jobs and cut salaries.
    On Monday (February 18) thousands of Iberia staff members protested against the restructuring plan took over terminal 4, chanting and waving flags against the plan they say is designed to favour British Airways. Police scuffled with demonstrators as they tried to prevent them from entering the terminal Iberia, which merged with profitable British Airways in 2011 to form the International Airlines Group, reported a loss of 262 million euros ($349.78 million) in the first nine months of 2012. International Airlines Group, which owns BA and Iberia, says the cuts are necessary to bring profits back.
    Iberia workers however fear the company plans to eventually close down the Iberia arm.
    "We don't want our pay cut or to lose our benefits which we have earned over the years through various agreements so that in two years we all get fired and the company gets closed down," UGT union representative, Chema Perez, said.
    Iberia staff plan demonstrations at airports throughout Spain at 1100GMT to mark the end of the first five day strike. Other stoppages are planned for March 4 to March 8 and March 18 to March 22.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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