Strike Resumes After Dismissals

Staff represented by the CGT union have resumed an indefinite strike at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport after the dismissal of three Groundforce employees, two of whom were members of the strike committee and served as Occupational Risk Prevention (PRL) delegates. The union says the dismissals, which occurred despite a period of negotiations, have worsened an already strained labour situation. The strike, originally launched on 4 August 2026 and declared indefinite on 16 September, had briefly paused in hopes of dialogue.

Planned Demonstrations

CGT has scheduled three days of renewed demonstrations: on Monday 19 October, Monday 26 October, and Monday 2 November. Each will take place in the departures area of Terminal 1 between 11:00 and 14:00. Juan Navarro, a member of the strike committee, stated that the demonstrations aim to increase pressure on Groundforce and alert Aena, the airport operator, that the conflict remains active. The protests will occur during peak morning passenger flow.

  • 19 October 2026 – 11:00 to 14:00, Terminal 1 departures
  • 26 October 2026 – 11:00 to 14:00, Terminal 1 departures
  • 2 November 2026 – 11:00 to 14:00, Terminal 1 departures

Core Demands Unmet

CGT maintains its original demands: sufficient and stable staffing, improved work organisation, and safe working conditions in line with PRL standards. The union accuses Groundforce of pursuing confrontation rather than resolving underlying issues. "For CGT, this is a particularly worrying situation, as these individuals held positions representing the staff and defending workplace safety and health, precisely one of the main issues that gave rise to the conflict," the union said in a statement. The company, which provides ground handling services for over 12 airlines at the airport, is subject to minimum service requirements under a resolution by Spain's Ministry of Transport (Resolución SSM 49/26-10-01, available at cdn.transportes.gob.es), but disruptions to baggage handling and boarding assistance remain possible.

When we had negotiations fairly tied up, we requested the reinstatement of the three colleagues. Given the company's outright refusal, we have decided to start the cycle of demonstrations.

, Juan Navarro, Strike Committee Member

What This Means for Travellers

Passengers flying through Barcelona Airport, particularly those departing from Terminal 1, should anticipate potential delays in check-in, boarding assistance, and baggage handling on demonstration days. Airlines using Groundforce include Iberia, Swissport, and others listed on Aena's airport services page. While minimum services are legally enforced, EU passenger rights under Regulation 261/2004 may not fully apply, as strikes by ground handling staff are typically classified as 'extraordinary circumstances'. This means affected passengers are entitled to care (meals, accommodation) but not necessarily compensation. Travellers with tight connections or time-sensitive plans are advised to arrive earlier and monitor airline updates.

Primary sources: aena.es, cdn.transportes.gob.es. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, economiadigital.es, visahq.news, cgtbarcelona.org, tercerainformacion.es, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.