Geneva Airport Strike: Agreement Reached, Minimal Travel Disruption

2023-12-31 21:33:11

The strike started on Sunday at dawn by some of the staff of Dnata, a company active at Geneva Airport, ended at midday, following the conclusion of an agreement. This social movement ultimately caused little disruption to air traffic.

Three rotations, or six flights, were canceled and some flights experienced delays of more than an hour. During the walkout, several flights were operated without loading or unloading baggage, Geneva Airport said.

But the situation was generally fluid. Nothing to do with the strike at the end of June which blocked airport activities, just before vacation departures. Dnata provided assistance for 85 flights out of the 419 planned on Sunday. In total, nearly 52,000 passengers were expected at the airport on Christmas Eve.

Morning gathering

The threat of a strike had been brandished at the start of the week by the union. Discussions between the Emirati company Dnata and the union had been held before the Chamber of Collective Labor Relations (CRCT), in vain. The threat was therefore carried out on Sunday morning.

Nearly a hundred Dnata employees gathered at 4 a.m. outside in front of the departure terminal with banners. It read: “Precarious work, plane on the ground”. Dressed in fluorescent yellow vests, they shouted their determination: “We will not give up!”.

3% increase

Negotiations held during the morning between the union and management finally led to an agreement shortly before noon. The staff obtained a collective labor agreement (CCT) which had been lacking since 2017 and a bonus for the arduousness of the work.

The agreement also provides for a 3% increase in wages while the strikers asked for 5%. Salaries have also been uncapped. Finally, management has planned a one-time bonus of 500 francs for each employee, depending on the work rate.

Satisfaction

“We are very satisfied,” noted SSP union secretary Jamshid Pouranpir, who thanked the management for having taken steps towards the staff. He notes that the control measures are paying off. Significantly, notes the SSP in a press release, the Zurich staff of Dnata will benefit from the same conditions obtained thanks to the strike in Geneva.

A Dnata spokesperson also declared his satisfaction in a press release: “We are convinced that the newly concluded agreement will constitute a solid basis for a positive and collaborative relationship between the two parties.”

Dnata employs around 600 people in Geneva, or a quarter of all ground employees. Its employees are responsible in particular for issuing tickets, transporting passengers and baggage on planes. The company operates on behalf of the airlines Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Air Lingus and, in part, Easyjet.

This article was automatically published. Source: ats

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