Ground-handling staff employed by Swissport at Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan Airport began the first of four planned days of partial strike action at 07:00 this morning, 28 July, after last-minute mediation failed. The stoppages, called by the CCOO union, will run from 07:00-12:00 and 19:00-22:00 on 28 July and again on 1, 4 and 8 August, directly overlapping with the busiest departure waves of the day. At issue are what workers describe as "precarious and highly fragmented" contracts and a wage gap they claim is 10-15 % below that of rival handlers at Spain’s other airports. Union spokesperson Carmen Martínez told local radio that only one in five employees is on a permanent contract, compelling many to work multiple jobs to survive on the island’s high cost of living. Attempts to secure a binding agreement at the Balearic Tribunal for Arbitration and Mediation failed when Swissport declined to table an improved pay offer. The walk-outs come at the height of the Balearic tourist season. Palma handled 3.9 million passengers last August and is forecasting a 4 % year-on-year increase in 2026. Any disruption to ramp, baggage or check-in operations can quickly cascade, forcing airlines to consolidate flights or leave aircraft overnight in Palma awaiting ground service. Industry observers note that Son Sant Joan already operates close to its hourly capacity cap of 66 movements in July and August, leaving little slack for recovery. Travel-management companies are advising corporate travellers to build in longer connection times, use online or hotel check-in where possible and carry essential work material in cabin baggage. Under EU261, airlines remain liable for care and assistance when delays exceed two hours, even when the root cause is a third-party strike. The Ministry of Transport has set minimum-service obligations that require Swissport to process at least 80 % of scheduled flights, but the union argues that understaffing means even the minimum roster is stretched. Negotiations are expected to resume on 31 July; failure to break the deadlock could see the dispute roll into the critical mid-August holiday weekend.
Source: Cadena SER – Radio Mallorca
