Vueling strike called off

SPANISH airline Vueling and its crew are to return to the negotiating table after three months of strike action that started on November 1, 2022.

The cabin crew union STAVLA said on Saturday, January 28 that the strikes which affected Friday, Sunday and Monday travel would be ended with both parties having agreed to resume talks.

In making the announcement STAVLA reminded everyone that it had said at the outset that it would continue with strike action as long as was necessary to achieve a new collective agreement.

STAVLA had been calling for a 13.4 per cent increase rising to 33 per cent by 2025. But the company had said was not financially possible and had instead given crew registered with the CC.OO a 6.5 per cent increase, which they said was in line with the inflation rate.

Impact on customers has always been limited given the requirement to operate mini­ mum services, instead resulting in the loss of cabin service on affected flights. Where flights could be cancelled passengers were moved to alter­ nate days, given credits or rebooked on other airlines.

The two parties are hopeful that an agreement can be reached by March.

SPAIN and Slovakia are determined to strengthen relations in areas such as sustainable mobility and tourism.

Spain’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, travelled to the Slovak Republic to promote new investments linked to the manufacture of batteries needed to boost the new electric and connected mobility.

Slovakia is one of Europe’s major car manufacturing centres, employing over 200,000 people, with Volkswagen, KIA, Land Rover and Volvo among the brands that have factories in

Betty Henderson

AUTHORITIES working on a contraband tobacco case have revealed that criminals were illicitly using Ukrainian refugees for labour, providing low wages and work in poor conditions.

Police from the Guardia Civil announced the dismantling of a criminal ring running three illegal tobacco factories on Sunday, January 22, and now say Ukrainian refugees were being exploited to work in two of the factories in dismal conditions, in exchange for menial wages.

Ukrainian refugees who had arrived in Spain following Russia’s invasion of their coun­

Spain and Slovakia

the country.

The Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, confirmed: “With this visit, we want to reinforce the government of Spain’s commitment to the Inobat project, so that Spain is chosen for its new factory.”

“We have excellent human capital, firstclass infrastructure and world­class know­how in electric and connected mobility. Spain is firmly committed to the electrification of the automotive industry.”