Iberia pilots and cabin crew planned strikes called off

Iberia recently announced that the planned strikes by its pilots and cabin crew have been called off. The airline stated that the pilots were represented by the SEPLA union and the cabin crew was represented by the STAVLA union.

The strikes were cancelled following mediation by the Spanish government.

The airline in a statement said that the government had also agreed to appoint a mediation to assist with the negotiation process between the airline and the unions.

Iberia hoped that negotiations of the new collective bargaining agreement will be resumed by SEPLA in good faith and an agreement reached at, particularly when the airline considers it necessary to reduce costs on order to be competitive.

Iberia flights were bracing to face disruptions, when the airline pilots had earlier this March announced a further 24 days of industrial action between March 16 and May 28 to protest the launch of Iberia Express, the carrier’s new subsidiary for short and medium-haul flights.

Since December 2011, Iberia pilots have already staged 12 days of strikes, causing a loss of $3.96 million on each strike day.

Iberia disclosed that its new subsidiary Iberia Express is due to commence flights from March 25, 2012.