EasyJet cabin crew in France could strike this weekend, potentially causing disruption at five European airports. The industrial action is scheduled for August 15 and 16.
Strike dates and affected airports
A strike notice was issued for Friday, August 7 to Wednesday, September 2, allowing staff to walk out at any time during that period with 48 hours' notice. The announced strike dates are August 15 and 16.
Airports that could face disruptions include Lyon, Nice, Paris Orly, Bordeaux and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Union statement on working conditions
The strike follows dissatisfaction with rota arrangements and working conditions. A statement from a group of unions said: "Any flight cancellations or disruptions resulting from these days of action will be solely attributable to easyJet, which has chosen not to give a serious response to the repeated warnings from trade unions over the past months."
The unions added: "For nearly a year, the unions have been warning easyJet management about the continuous deterioration of cabin crew working conditions: chronic schedule instability, last-minute changes, imposed trip patterns, particularly burdensome rotations, and a total lack of protective measures."
EasyJet's response and customer advice
An easyJet spokesperson told The Mirror: "We are extremely disappointed that unions representing our France-based cabin crew have announced plans for industrial action on 15 and 16 August, outside any formal negotiation process and despite our offer of adjustments to tackle their concerns."
The spokesperson added: "Given we have planned negotiations in September, we call on the unions to call off this opportunistic action at this important time of the year for our customers. We are sorry for the impact the unnecessary action will have on our customers. We are doing all we can to minimise disruption. Customers whose flights are cancelled will be informed directly and will be offered options including a free transfer or a refund."
Customers travelling to or from France on Saturday and Sunday have been advised to check the status of their flight.
