Pilots decide to keep strike in TAP – publico

                 

                         
                     

                         

                 

 
                         

The Civil Aviation Pilots’ Union (SPAC) today announced that it will keep the strike ten days already starts on Friday. The union says it is always possible an agreement to suspend the protests, but so far this has not been possible.

                     

                         At a press conference held after a new meeting with the president of TAP, which took place on the afternoon of Thursday, Hélder Santinhos, the SPAC’s management reaffirmed that the protests are to maintain because “pilots and workers are tired of pay for mistakes that are not yours. “

The official accused the TAP and the Government of” radicalism “and assured that” the pilots made very significant concessions “during the negotiation process that lasted until the date of this afternoon with Fernando Pinto. “The administration is adamant in its position,” he said, adding that although “the strikes are never timely,” pilots “are here to assume their responsibilities.”

Hélder Santinhos said, however, that “there is always” the possibility of an agreement that results in the cancellation of this standstill. That was the expectation that existed when the PUBLIC reported that SPAC steering elements were meeting with the president of TAP to try to reach an agreement that caught the strike. But at least so far, has not been found a solution that allows it. Pilots claim the refund of seniority suspended since 2011 and a share between 10% and 20% stake in the company.

In response to the union’s decision, the Economy Minister made a statement again appeal to workers to attend the service. “I appeal to the pilots, men and women used to making decisions in delicate moments, work 1-10 de Maio” said Pires de Lima.

The governor justified the failure to answer more questions journalists with the “hope that the whole Portuguese society still holds until the last minute,” that the strike is called off. To the minister, further comment could jeopardize a possible “rethinking the drivers,” making clear that still exists within the Government, the expectation that the strike is canceled.

But even that the protests were canceled, the main damage is already sunk. Only for this Friday, the 1st day of a strike which is scheduled to May 10, there have been three thousand passengers decided to cancel the trips. The number could be much higher, since there are customers who already have given up the flights, but not yet confirmed this decision to TAP.

The airline estimated carry around 350,000 people these ten days. A substantial share of passengers is already lost and other important slice opted to transfer flights to alternative dates or ask vouchers with valid for one year, that is, even though not canceled tickets, will occupy the place of future reserves, which will always mean a loss for the TAP.

On Thursday, the airline published a notice on its website that lists the flights which will not accomplish if the strike continue. They are a total of 86 bonds that the company has not canceled on purpose, because on the one hand, still has the expectation that the pilots attend the service and, secondly, is to avoid the payment of refunds to customers.