Madrid Barajas airport lurches from one crisis to the next

Chaotic three-day strike by security personnel followed by threats of action due to airport staff shortages

Archive photo of Madrid Barajas airport

Madrid Barajas airport is facing further disruption in the wake of a three-day strike by security personnel that caused chaos for thousands of travellers.

About 2,200 people missed their flights on Monday due to long queues, and a further 890 on Tuesday morning.

Some users claimed queues were up to a kilometre long inside the airport and passengers were being advised to turn up very early.

The action was taken by workers for the security company Trablisa, which is in charge of the access checks, demanding improved pay and conditions.

Although only 21 of its 850 workers there took part, the company accused its staff of a slowdown that contravened the government’s order that services must remain at 100%.

Trablisa said the strike has been “illegal, abusive and disproportionate”, arguing that the demands were “unassumable”, that striking to change a valid collective wage agreement is prohibited and threatening legal action.

More trouble ahead

Now workers for state airports company Aena are considering industrial action due to staff shortages, according to the Independent Union for Aeronautical Collectives (SICA).

The union claims that workers are being forced to cover absences on a daily basis without any consideration of their right to time off, and accuses Aena of acting “in notable bad faith”.

For example, workers in the Programming and Operations Techniques (TPO) were ordered to cover 96 shifts just in August, in many cases with fewer than four days notice, stated SICA, and a further 98 shifts need to be covered this month.

Aena is currently unable to cover gaps produced due to retirements, transfers to other departments and temporary absences, such as illnesses.

The shortages are affecting flights by the National Transplants Organisation and management of any medical needs of passengers in any of the terminals.

SICA and other unions have already taken the matter up with Spain’s Labour Inspectorate, which found in their favour and fined Aena €1,250, but they noted that this matters little when the company recorded profits of over €1.9 billion in 2024.

Moreover, the average age of Aena staff means that at least a third of them will need to be replaced within five years, with no signs of these positions being covered.

Negotiations remain ongoing but SICA has warned that “since there is no sign of any intention to reach a solution”, they cannot rule out calling “demonstrations and ultimately a strike” if this situation continues.

Image: Archive

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