Spain’s Iberia workers to go on strike

Labor unions at Spanish national airline Iberia say they will go on a 15-day strike.

Unions of land-based workers and cabin crew of the airline announced on Wednesday that they would go on a strike between February 18 and 22, March 4 and 8, and March 18 and 22.

The unions failed to reach an agreement on the company’s plans to reduce workforce and cut costs.

Iberia is, with British Airways, part of International Airlines Group (IAG), which announced in November last year plans to slash 4,500 jobs and to cut salaries by 25 to 35 percent at the airline.

Three Spanish unions — Workers’ Commissions union (CCOO), the Spanish Airline Pilots Union (SEPLA) and the General Union of Workers (UGT) — have spoken out against the move.

IAG had given the unions until the end of January to reach an agreement on the cuts. It said the cuts were necessary due to the worsening economic crisis in Spain and the eurozone.

On November 14, six airlines operating in Spain cut more than 600 flights, including some 250 international routes, over austerity measures introduced by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government.

The Spanish government has been sharply criticized over austerity policies that are hitting the middle and working classes the hardest.

However, the government has remained adamant, saying the austerity measures are needed to carry it through the crisis.