Aug 2019 (Lusa) – Ryanair crew members begin a five-day strike until Sunday, called by the National Civil Aviation Flight Personnel Union (SNPVAC) and which has minimum services enacted by the Government.
On Tuesday, Ryanair said it did not expect “significant disruption” from the strike, but pointed out that it could not “rule out some delays” or changes in flights.
“Passengers who have not received an ’email’ or message can expect their flights to and from Portugal to take place normally this week,” the company said.
In the meantime, given that there was no agreement between Ryanair and the union, the Portuguese Government has enacted minimum services to be performed during the strike, covering not only the Azores and Madeira, but also the European cities of Berlin, Cologne, London and Paris.
NOTE: A check of Ryanair flights this morning 21st August show up to 0900 hrs all have departed at normal from Faro, Lisbon and Porto.
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Thus, the minimum services include a daily round trip flight between Lisbon and Paris; between Lisbon and Berlin; between Porto and Cologne; between Lisbon and London; between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada, as well as a round-trip connection between Lisbon and Terceira Island (Lajes) today, Friday and Sunday.
SNPVAC criticized this decision and “vehemently repudiated” the minimum services and the Government’s rationale for imposing them.
In a statement, the union said it “vehemently repudiates yet another attempt by the government to annihilate the right to strike of the Portuguese and, in particular, Ryanair’s crew”, ensuring that it does not accept “defending the economic interests of a private company and to the detriment of the rights of Portuguese workers.
On August 9, the union reported that the airline had sent crew members an ‘online’ questionnaire to see if they would participate in the shutdown.