On August 22, more than 400 flights were detained at the Brussels airport because of the strike of the loaders. Three thousand people could not set out because of the flights cancellation.

The walkout is carried out by Swissport staff, one of the two airport contractors involved in loading and unloading operations.

Protesters express dissatisfaction with the large amount of overtime work under the conditions of a personnel lack (about 50 people of the staff are temporarily disabled due to illness). As a result, luggage loading and unloading process for each flight is performed by teams of three movers instead of appointed four people.

On August 23, protesters at Zaventem International Airport refused to resume work, despite the reached with the administration agreement during the night negotiations.

"Not all luggage is delivered to the destination. Passengers who flight with this company are advised to travel only with hand luggage", — warned the administration of the Belgium main airport.

The airport administration recommended arriving passengers not to wait for the baggage, fill the standard request for luggage loss and return home.

Flights from Brussels to Moscow, operated by Brussels Airlines and Aeroflot, are also serviced by the striking company. On August 22, loading of luggage for Aeroflot flights was carried out by employees of the Russian company with the support of auxiliary services of the airport.

The five-day strike of Swissport loaders in May 2013 led to the cancellation of 200 flights and the accumulation of 20 thousand pieces of luggage in the technical zone of the airport. As a result, the loaders’ strike costed more than one million euros.

Adapted from the media

Photo: open sources