After a meeting held yesterday morning with the representatives from the airport manager, the Spanish Unions CCOO and USO have decided to go ahead with the strike that had been called for 27 days of stops in Aena. Thus, ElEconomista informed that the first stop will take place on Wednesday, February 11 which coincides with the planned date for the Aena’s IPO. This first stop has been scheduled to be carried out between 10:00 and 13:00 local time.
CCOO and USO claim that Aena is not complying with the collective agreement. For instance, they are not complying with the minimum staff of 8,000 workers. Moreover, in their opinion, these shortcomings will increase as soon as Aena’s partial privatisation is carried out during which 49% of the company will be sold to individuals or private companies.
Out of the total 27 days of stops, 22 will be for 24 hours and 5 will be partial stops. The full day stops will take place on March 19 and 22; on April 2, 5 and 6; on May 14 and 17 (only in Madrid); on June 4, 7 and 30; On the days 1 to 5, 15 and 31 of July and on 1, 2, 14, 30 and 31 of August. Always coinciding with busy days in the Spanish airports due to different holidays or festivities. With regard to the partial stops, they have been scheduled for February 11, March 18, April 1 and 30 and June 3.
These stops are expected to affect Aena’s employees of departments such us operations, firemen, flaggers, etc., but not ground handling employees who depend on different independent companies. For further information on the impact of these stops at each station, airlines can contact with their local representatives.
Uncertainty in the stable nucleus
As we previously informed, Aena selected three core shareholders to acquire a 21% stake of the company and create a stable nucleus. The latest news published in different media informs about the fact that Aena’s share price is increasing very much prior to the IPO. This means that those three core shareholders would have to pay significantly more than expected for that 21% stake and, as a consequence of that, they can forfeit their attempt of participating.
Hence, EuropaPress informed yesterday that the State Secretary for Infrastructure – Julio Gómez-Pomar – said he would rather have a stable nucleus but they are just following the market rules. That’s why he said that Ferrovial, TCI and Corporación Financiera Alba still have the possibility of buying their part of Aena SA in the IPO expected for next Wednesday.
Photo: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport check-in counters /Flickr-Marc
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