British holidaymakers planning a spell in the sun in the Spanish Balearics may have their plans for rest and relaxation scuppered by a planned coach driver strike.
The 4,000 coach drivers who are responsible for ferrying tourists from airports to hotels as part of planned transfers on the islands of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera have threatened strike action in a row over pay.
The drivers will forge ahead with plans for a series of strikes from July 20 unless they are granted a pay rise and overtime backdated to January 2011. The date coincides with a planned strike by the Balearic Islands’ hotel and catering sector, serving a further blow to Spain’s tourist trade.
As July 20 falls on a Friday, one of the largest turnaround days for travel companies, chaos could ensue for many tourists. Many operators also fear that the news could prompt last-minute holiday cancellations.
The Balearics attract 1.8 million Britons on an annual basis and the proposed strike may lead to delays at airports as well as reduced facilities at hotels.
The strike action, organised by the socialist-led General Workers’ Union and the largely communist Workers’ Commission, has led to outcry from the islands’ regional government and local hoteliers, and will do little to support Spain’s fragile economy.
“It’s complete madness. With unemployment at record highs, the hostelry sector is just cutting the lifeline to the Balearics,” commented one tour operator.
“Strike fever is very much in the air,” one journalist in Palma, Majorca told the Daily Mail.
“Doctors are due to go on indefinite strike on July 20 and a big demonstration has been called for that day to protest at the government’s austerity measures. It’s not looking good.”
Although strike periods in the country are normally in short bursts, they can happen three or four times within the month, leading to ongoing logistical problems for operators.
(Image: Eduardo Pitt)
