Lisbon, Aug. 30, 2024 (Lusa) - Menzies Aviation Portugal (owner of Groundforce) on Friday called the allegations of low wages that motivated this weekend's strike, called by the Portuguese Transport Workers' Union (Sttamp), unfounded and unfair.

In a statement, the British company Menzies Aviation, which in June completed the purchase of 50.1% of Groundforce Portugal and took control of the company that also has Portugal's flag carrier TAP as a shareholder, ‘deeply regretted that a strike has been called based on distorted and unfounded reasons’ and on ‘unfair and false allegations made by the strike promoters, which do not reflect the reality of the recently signed company labour agreement’.

Sttamp has called a two-day strike of ground handling services at Portuguese airports, between midnight on Saturday and midnight on Sunday, in protest at low wages, among other demands, such as the "successive changes to working schedules outside the provisions of the Company Agreement" and "the way in which the voluntary redundancy programme is being carried out, under threat of collective dismissal in a company where there are no people to work", according to the notice.

In the note sent out today, Menzies ‘publicly confirms the agreed salary structure, which has been signed by all the unions representing the workers in its operations in Portugal’, ensuring a ‘salary increase of more than 10%, with total remuneration packages that exceed the Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Remuneration (GMMR)’.

According to the company, among ‘the benefits offered to workers’ are annual bonuses, shift allowance, transport allowance, meal allowance, 26 days' holiday, health insurance and better working conditions, among others.

Menzies also accused the union of ‘total disregard’ for the impact the strike will have, with delays and disruption for passengers, workers and the aviation community in general.

The company called for dialogue, ‘with the aim of finding fair solutions that benefit all parties involved’.

MPE/AYLS // AYLS

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