Airport Staff Call Protest at Palma

Friday, July 18th, 2025

Growing worker unrest could impact passengers as calls for action escalate

A major workers’ union in Spain has announced plans for a protest at Palma de Mallorca Airport on Thursday, the 25th of July 2025, with warnings that further action could lead to significant disruption for travellers. The union behind the protest, FeSMC UGT, has raised serious concerns over working conditions and accused several major aviation service companies of mistreatment and breaches of labour rights.

Who is UGT?

UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores) is one of Spain’s largest and oldest trade unions. The Federation of Services, Mobility and Consumption (FeSMC UGT) represents workers in various sectors, including aviation, tourism, and transport. In the Balearic Islands, the union has been increasingly vocal in defending workers’ rights amid rising concerns about precarious working conditions, particularly in the travel and hospitality industries.

Why is there a protest at Palma Airport?

The planned demonstration, scheduled from 08:00 to 12:00 on the 25th of July, is set to take place at the airport’s arrivals terminal. FeSMC UGT has described working conditions at the airport as “unsustainable”, blaming the current situation on mismanagement and lack of proper regulation, particularly among subcontractors handling passport control and ground services.

Among the key grievances raised:

• Excessive working hours: Some employees reportedly work up to 18 or 19 hours in a row without adequate breaks or compensation.
• Unstable contracts: Many workers are on base contracts for fewer than 30 hours per week, with little job security.
• Unsafe conditions: Staff claim they are mentally and physically exhausted, operating in hostile environments without proper resources or facilities.
• Poor communication and unfair dismissals: Some workers claim they’ve been dismissed via SMS or removed from staff WhatsApp groups with no prior warning.
• Lack of proper ID access: Temporary staff reportedly lack permanent security cards, leaving them reliant on longer-serving colleagues to access restricted areas.

The union has accused several companies, including Swissport, Groundforce, Menzies, EasyJet, and Ryanair, of failing to uphold basic labour rights. They are also calling on Aena, the airport’s operator, to step in and mediate by establishing joint talks involving Aena, the Balearic Government and union representatives to address the ongoing issues in a coordinated way.

How could this affect passengers?

While the demonstration planned for the 25th of July is currently intended as a peaceful protest, the union has warned that escalation is likely if no progress is made. This could include more disruptive measures designed to “bring the airport to a standstill.”

Although it is not yet certain whether flights or services will be affected, passengers travelling through Palma Airport around this time should plan ahead, allow extra time for check-in and security, and monitor updates from airlines and the airport.

Mounting pressure after hospitality workers win pay rise

The timing of this protest is significant. Earlier this month, hospitality workers in the Balearics secured a major pay agreement, widely seen as a victory for labour unions in the region. Some commentators suggest that the threat of strike action at Palma Airport may have played a decisive role in pushing negotiators to settle the hospitality pay dispute.

This success appears to have emboldened other sectors, such as aviation, where workers continue to report overwork, job instability, and lack of proper equipment or facilities, especially during the busy summer season.

What should passengers do?

With record numbers of travellers passing through Palma Airport this summer, any industrial action could have a noticeable impact on holidaymakers and residents alike. While the current protest is intended as a warning, further disruption cannot be ruled out.

We recommend travellers:

• Check for any official statements from Palma Airport or airlines.
• Arrive earlier than usual for flights around the date of the protest.
• Keep an eye on news updates regarding possible strike escalation.

The coming weeks may prove crucial in determining whether airport operations continue smoothly or if more serious disruption lies ahead.

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