During Holy Week, operations at Alicante-Elche Airport are at risk due to a recent strike by ground handling personnel. The unions have requested that two of the primary handling companies at the Alicante terminal, Menzies and Groundforce, implement several days of work stoppages following their failure to negotiate an agreement. Despite the fact that Ryanair, the most popular airline in Alicante in terms of passenger traffic, has its own handling company, both companies service a substantial number of airlines. Consequently, Ryanair will not be impacted.
Consequently, the UGT union has declared that the demonstrations will commence at the commencement of Holy Week. The strike will have the most significant impact on Menzies’ operations, as it is responsible for providing ground services to high-volume airlines including EasyJet, Norwegian, Transavia, and Wizz Air. In contrast, Lufthansa and its affiliate airlines, as well as Air Baltic and Air Europa, are the primary customers of Groundforce.
On Saturday, March 28, the strike at Menzies will commence and persist through Sunday. During Holy Week, employees at Alicante-Elche Airport will engage in another strike from April 2nd to 6th. After an unsuccessful meeting with the SIMA (Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service), the unions arrived at this conclusion.
Groundforce, on the other hand, will commence its operation today, Friday March 27th. The protests will involve partial work stoppages on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with three time slots: from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m., from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, as specified in the joint statement.
The handling strike at Alicante-Elche airport during Holy Week poses a significant threat to a significant portion of the flights. UGT has called on Menzies and Groundforce employees to participate in an indefinite strike that will commence on March 27, coinciding with the commencement of the holiday season in Madrid. Both companies, particularly the former, provide services to the primary airlines at the Alicante terminal. Oscar Bartual Bardisa and EP are also involved.
Due to the fuel crisis, one of the primary airlines at Alicante-Elche airport has announced pricing increases and flight cancellations.
A mere few days ago, the unions issued a warning to the companies, accusing them of violating the fundamental conditions of part-time contracts, prioritising this type of contract, asserting essential flexibility, and committing a systematic abuse of overtime.
The unions also denounce a disagreement with the companies regarding the application of the salary schedules, particularly the application of the differential derived from the CPI. “UGT criticises the company for disregarding the agreed-upon salary increase for the administrative and agent job groups, which is 4.58% in fixed components. The rise should be 7.82%, as it is for the other job groups and categories, as per the 2026 salary scales presented by the company.”
This is the third strike in the Menzies handling sector in less than two years, and it has already impacted holiday periods at Alicante-Elche airport.
Other Articles
More cannabis clubs closed: Five shut down in Torrevieja
