Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Spain
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Transportation / Storage
Land, Water And Air Transportation
Air Transport
51 - Air transport

3,140 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
17 December 2012
Employment effect (start)
14 March 2013
Foreseen end date
31 December 2015

Description

On the 12th of February Iberia announced the launch of a new labour force adjustment plan (ERE) affecting 3,807 employees (19% of its entire workforce).

This is a new restructuring proposal, after the first attempts failed to reach an agreement between the management and the workers’ representatives. The original plan included 4,500 job cuts, but larger compensation. IAG management also wants Iberia to reduce its route capacity by 15 percent this year and for the airline’s employees to accept wage cuts.

According to the new proposal, the company will offer the minimum compensation by dismissal stipulated in the Spanish legislation: 20 days per year worked with a limit of 12 months. The dismissals will affect 2735 land workers, 759 crew members and 313 pilots. A consultation process of one month with the unions has been initiated. However, the unions have already called for 15 days of strike on February 18-22, March 4-8 and March 18-22.

UPDATE 10.03.2013: On the 10th of March, IAG has accepted to decrease the numbers of workers affected in the collective redundancy to 3,140. Following the proposal of a mediator appointed by the Ministry of Public Works, the company has decided to reduce the number of dismissals. Bearing this change in mind, the unions have stopped the call for strikes foreseen for the month of March.  

Iberia is the Spanish flag carrier airline, currently employing nearly 20,000 people. Since 2010 Iberia and British Airways have merged into the holding company International Airlines Group (IAG), the third largest worldwide commercial airline by revenue. Iberia recorded losses of over 850 million euros from January 2008 to September 2012, and the losses amounted to 262 million in the first nine months of 2012 alone.


Sources

  • 12 February 2013: El País
  • 10 March 2013: ABC
  • 17 December 2012: Cinco Días
  • 12 February 2013: Iberia Press Release

Citation

Eurofound (2012), Iberia (IAG), Internal restructuring in Spain, factsheet number 74704, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/74704.