Security workers at Barcelona airport to resume strike in October

The franchise firm, Eulen, has agreed not to sack or fine those employees who failed to provide the stipulated minimum services during the earlier summer strikes, which was one of security staff's requests, and in return, the planned industrial action for September will not go ahead.

Other demands, which include a €250-a-month pay rise to be paid on the basis of a 15-month year – or three double payments – are very unlikely to be agreed.

The Spanish government appointed an abitrator, a last resort if a strike cannot be resolved in any other way, and halfway-house measures have been drawn up.

But staff say Eulen is not complying with many of the terms.

These include not firing or sanctioning the workers who failed to provide minimum services, a condition that has been fulfilled, but those concerning a guarantee that employees can have a lunch break and stop to go to the toilet during their shift have not, the unions claim.

According to staff, they are 'in a worse situation than before the strikes started' two months ago.

“We cannot even go to the toilet or stop to eat, and the pregnant women among us are risking their health in this way,” says a union representative.

“What is happening now is inhumane.

“When a colleague goes to the toilet because he or she cannot hold on any longer, he or she comes back and gets reprimanded by the manager who then files a report with the Guardia Civil for the employee's having illegally abandoned his or her post.”

Although September strikes are off, Eulen workers at Barcelona's El Prat airport will still be taking part in a planned protest march on 27^th of this month.