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Flights cancelled at Geneva Airport as employees go on strike over salaries

Passengers formed large lines to check in and go through security checks due to delays

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Travellers wait at the departure area as airport employees stage a strike causing flight delays and cancellations at the Geneva Airport, Switzerland. — Reuters

By Reuters

Published: Fri 30 Jun 2023, 5:50 PM

Air traffic at Geneva Airport was at a standstill early on Friday, with dozens of flight arrivals and departures cancelled as public service staff members go on strike over pay.

About a hundred employees stood outside the airport's departure area to protest a salary policy approved by the airport's board of directors that imposes a freeze on pay increases.

The strike caused air traffic at the airport — a hub for diplomats and officials travelling to the UN — to be halted between 6am and 10am (local time) on Friday.

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The Public Services Union, which rejected a proposal by the airport management that could have ended the strike, voted to continue striking for the remainder of Friday and to return to the picket line on Saturday.

"Of course it's unfortunate but we ask passengers to direct their anger towards the airport management that is responsible for this mess," said Jamshid Pouranpir, union secretary of the Public Services Union.

Pierre Bernheim, president of Geneva Airport, said the strike was unjustified.

"I'm sad because they are taking passengers, who may have saved money for a long time, hostage," he said, describing the pay and work conditions at the airport as excellent.

The delays became noticeable at around 9.30am, when passengers formed large lines to check in and go through security checks. The striking workers include security and emergency staff.

"I understand they are defending their purchasing power, but they could have chosen another day," said Gilles Segret, a resident of the French city of Annecy, who was scheduled to fly to Amsterdam.

Kent Normark, a Danish runner, was due to fly to Denmark for a 1,500-meter race on Saturday. "I really hope to go back to Copenhagen," he said.

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Reuters

Published: Fri 30 Jun 2023, 5:50 PM

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