At least 216 Easyjet flights to and from Portugal were cancelled by the carrier on the first day of a strike that began on Thursday, as cabin crew members at the Portuguese airline protested, demanding better working conditions.
As a result of the protest, planned for three days, thousands of passengers, especially tourists spending their holidays in Portugalwere forced to change their flight connections.
“We expect mass participation”
The cancellations represent 70% of all Easyjet flights scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at Portuguese airports, according to the Portuguese Airline Passenger Aircraft Union (SNPVAC), which supports the protest. “We expect a massive strike by employees of this carrier,” the syndicate said Wednesday, adding that other Easyjet flights scheduled to and from Portugal through Saturday could also be disrupted.
Demands of trade unionists
According to the union representing striking workers at Easyjet's Portuguese branch, the protest is based on the alleged disregard of the demands of cabin crew by the carrier's management. The main demands of the strikers are improved working conditions.
Main image source: Pawel Kazmierczak/Shutterstock