Ryanair ground staff in Spain to strike from December 30

Earlier this week, pilots of the low-cost airline in Ireland, Germany, Italy and Portugal announced strikes from December 20 onwards for the same reason.

According to the General Workers' Union (UGT), the Labourers' Commissions (CCOO), the USO and CGT, employees have presented 12 requests to company bosses, one of which is that the number of days worked per year does not exceed 214.

They also want their pay increased annually by 3% per year, retroactively for 2016 and 2017, as the General Ground Assistance for Passengers and Aircraft Employee Conditions Agreement – the third version in force – stipulates.

Additionally, they want their job contracts clarified and the rules governing them made clear.

Some of them are on temporary contracts, others are on what are known as 'fixed discontinuous', meaning they are laid off during quiet times and return to work during peak season, but are still technically employed by the firm when they are not working.

Further, they want overtime payments to be their hourly rate plus €5, as the Employee Conditions Agreement states.

Around 1,000 Ryanair staff in all airports and hubs it has in Spain have been called upon to down tools.

Unions say they will call off the strike if Ryanair bosses meet their requests.