Disruption possibly looming at airports: Menzies staff to continue strike until Monday's end
Menzies Summer Strikes in Portugal Disrupt Tourism and Air Travel
The summer of 2025 in Portugal has been marked by a series of labor disputes at Menzies, a ground handling company, causing significant disruptions to air travel and tourism. Over the past few months, workers, represented by the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA) and the Transport Union (ST), have organised five planned four-day strikes at major airports across Portugal, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores.
The strikes, deliberately timed during the peak tourism season, have resulted in flight delays and cancellations, causing inconvenience for travellers and disrupting holiday plans. According to reports, cancellations have ranged from around 6 to 18 on some strike days at Lisbon airport alone, with significant operational delays reported at other airports.
The labor dispute arose due to a number of issues, including wages falling below Portugal’s national minimum wage, non-payment of agreed night shift and unsocial hours compensation, failure to provide previously agreed employee parking, and the company not honoring a Memorandum of Understanding on pay increases and back payments after the transition from Groundforce to Menzies.
The union accuses Menzies management of refusing dialogue and acting arrogantly and irresponsibly during a critical time for tourism, while Menzies claims the unions promote a distorted narrative and lack willingness for honest talks. The company has stated it will not comment on legal matters, ensuring it acts "rigorously, in accordance with the law" and with contractual obligations assumed.
The strikes are scheduled to start at 00:00 this Friday and end at 24:00 on Monday, marking the second of five planned stoppages for the summer. The first strike in July resulted in the cancellation of several flights, delays, and instances where planes departed without baggage or cargo at Lisbon Airport.
The UK Foreign Office has issued warnings advising travellers to monitor updates from airlines and travel agents, and passengers are urged to check flight status in advance and prepare for inconvenience during strike dates.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Menzies has reiterated that it has implemented "robust" contingency plans, aligned with minimum services defined by the Economic and Social Council, and with full respect for workers' rights. The union and Menzies are exchanging accusations of unwillingness to dialogue, with SIMA having filed two criminal complaints against the administrations of SPdH/Menzies and TAP.
The strikes will continue until the last weekend of August, on all days between August 15 and 18, 22 and 25, and 29 August and 1 September. As the summer progresses, it remains to be seen how this labor dispute will be resolved, and whether further disruptions to air travel and tourism will occur.
- The science of psychology could provide insights into the ongoing labor dispute at Menzies, a ground handling company in Portugal, shedding light on the workplace-wellness implications for employees.
- The health-and-wellness industry is keeping a close eye on the ongoing labor dispute, as the effects of job stress and its impact on employees' mental and physical wellbeing could potentially worsen through the peak tourism season.
- The finance industry is examining the potential financial implications of the labor dispute, as flight cancellations and disruptions caused by the strikes may affect the balance sheets of the affected airlines and tour operators.
- The transportation industry, both domestic and international, is closely following the strikes at Menzies, as a prolonged labor dispute could lead to widespread disruptions, affecting public-transit systems and ground services.
- Amidst the backdrop of the labor dispute, politics and policy-and-legislation are likely to play significant roles as both the union and Menzies engage in a public debate, with potential consequences for general-news coverage and public opinion.
