The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) yesterday announced a strike from Tuesday, March 27, until Thursday, March 29, in protest against the "chaotic situation" that exists in the service. (HERE)It can not be predicted how the SEF strike will affect the smooth running of Portugal’s airports which are preparing for a busy week prior to and over the Easter break.
Ryanair has pleaded with its crew members to "ignore the threat of strike" over the Easter holiday.
The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Crew (SNPVAC) today announced that Ryanair cabin crew members will strike on Thursday, Sunday and Monday because talks with the low-cost carrier "have been unsuccessful."
The company does not expect "many of the cabin crew members to join this strike," but that the "possibility of disruption in the operation" can not be ruled out as from Thursday, so all affected passengers will be contacted "by email and SMS."
The carrier said it had contacted "Ryanair cabin crew in Portugal in writing, asking them to put customers first and ignore this threat of strike over Easter period."
The carrier said it had contacted "Ryanair cabin crew in Portugal in writing, asking them to put customers first and ignore this threat of strike over Easter period."
The union says that the three day strike is on because talks, "have proved fruitless, since Ryanair does not accept Portuguese Law," in particular the rights inscribed in the Constitution and the Labour Code, such as maternity leave.
TAP has cancelled 36 flights to and from Lisbon airport from 07:00 Monday, according to ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal, with the carrier "lamenting" the situation but giving no reason as to its drastic action.
“TAP regrets the cancellations and is working to minimise the impact on its passengers," according a statement from the airline.
Cancelled flights include those to Abidjan, Lomé and Rio de Janeiro, as well as Madeira and the Azores, and several European cities.
The holiday weekend weather is going to be dire anyway, with rain, strong wind and a drop in temperature from the current warm period.
It will be worse ‘oop north though, with the Algarve escaping the harshest of the rain soaked blasts.
