Baggage handlers for Aviapartner carried out a spontaneous "wildcat" strike on Saturday, leading to considerable disruption at Brussels Airport. After talks with management over the course of Saturday, operations returned to normal on Sunday, with staff again loading luggage on board planes, the socialist union BTB (FGTB-UBT) confirmed.
Negotiations between management and the unions will continue on Wednesday. Aviapartner baggage handlers had walked out on Saturday morning, citing too high a workload and a problem with the points-based driving licence that applies to workers at Brussels Airport.
Their strike had led to departure delays and some flights taking off without their passengers’ luggage. ACV-Transcom union said on Saturday that 89 flights were affected.
📢 BAGGAGE UPDATE Aviapartner resumed the baggage handling at Brussels Airport. Passengers who did not receive their luggage and made a claim on arrival on Saturday 18 February will be contacted individually. Haven't submitted a baggage claim yet? ➡ https://t.co/gzhnhHSmsm
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) February 19, 2023
On Sunday morning, baggage handling was proceeding normally again, Brussels Aiport confirmed. “Baggage that remained in Brussels yesterday/Saturday will be forwarded to its respective destination,” said airport spokeswoman Nathalie Pierard. “Passengers who were unable to collect their luggage on Saturday will also be notified as soon as it is ready.”
Heavy work
Talks between Aviapartner management and the unions failed on Saturday evening. They will continue on Wednesday. In the meantime, the unions have pledged that baggage handlers will return to work.
The job of baggage handler is physically very demanding, the union insists. You have to work at a high pace for an "on time" departure, in all weathers and often in the open air. In teams of five to six workers, an average of 25 tonnes of luggage passes through their hands in shifts.
Given the shortage of staff, "no one is allowed to fall ill, leave or time off is almost impossible to take and each baggage handler has to be hyper-flexible," adds Sandra Langenus, UBT Brussels regional secretary for Flemish Brabant.
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Similar to the grievances voiced by flight staff last year, Aviapartner employees told of teams being reduced due to the pandemic and now being overwhelmed as air traffic returns to normal levels. "This causes nervous tension in everyone and at the slightest discussion it becomes too much for our people," explained Frank Moreels, president of the UBT.
About 60,000 people are expected to arrive at Brussels Airport on Sunday, the second day of the Carnival holiday.
