Spain: Groundforce ground handling workers launch indefinite strike at 12 airports
SuspendedLast Updated:
UGT, CCOO and USO have called an indefinite strike of Groundforce ground handling staff with daily stoppages (approx. 05:00–07:00, 11:00–17:00, and 22:00–00:00) affecting 12 airports, including Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat. Separate 24‑hour walkouts ran April 2–6; from April 6 onward, the partial stoppages continue.
This alert was originally created on 6 April 2026.
Public Impact
Airport
Effective Dates
Updates
Jun 1, 2026
⏸ Suspended
The strike has been suspended since early April while negotiations continue at the SIMA mediation service. UGT, CCOO and USO are maintaining the suspension; management has tabled a 6.5% pay rise back-dated to January together with a review of weekend overtime. The action can resume at 24 hours' notice.
Apr 11, 2026
✎ Update
CCOO, UGT and USO have suspended the Monday, April 13 round of partial stoppages in the Groundforce indefinite strike to allow negotiations to progress, after already pausing the April 8 and 10 actions. Further dates remain subject to talks.
📅 Effective dates
+ Added: 13 Apr 2026
− Removed: 6 Apr 2026, 7 Apr 2026, 8 Apr 2026, 9 Apr 2026, 10 Apr 2026, 11 Apr 2026, 12 Apr 2026
Apr 9, 2026
✎ Update
CCOO, UGT and USO suspended some of the Groundforce partial stoppages to open negotiations with the company, including the action scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026. Other action may proceed depending on talks.
Affected Locations
- Madrid-Barajas
- Barcelona-El Prat
- Alicante
- Valencia
- Palma de Mallorca
- Ibiza
- Málaga
- Las Palmas
- Tenerife
- Lanzarote
- Fuerteventura
- Bilbao
Sources
- https://elpais.com/economia/2026-03-30/la-primera-jornada-de-huelga-de-groundforce-en-aeropuertos-provoca-retrasos-de-hasta-50-minutos-segun-ugt.html
- https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20260327/11501100/huelga-indefinida-personal-tierra-doce-aeropuertos-incluido-barcelona.html
- https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2026-08-03/cgt-mantiene-la-huelga-de-servicios-en-tierra-en-el-aeropuerto-de-barcelona-desde-manana.html
- https://elpais.com/espana/catalunya/2026-08-04/una-huelga-de-los-servicios-de-tierra-causa-anulaciones-en-vuelos-desde-el-aeropuerto-de-barcelona.html
📲
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