MESTRE – «Theairport is growing, it’s true, but the number of employees continues to decline,” say i labor unions of the transports they report the safety risk and the decline in the quality of servicesi, and announce agitations And strikes. A few days ago we published the data relating to progressive takeoffs at Marco Polo where in the first week of April the growth was 7% (803 against 747 last year): 2% more than what had been forecast at the end of March by Save, manager of the airports, who during a workshop with 65 operators, including airlines, tourism bodies and tour operators, had spoken of 13 million passengers expected from April to October, i.e. for the 2024 summer season. More than positive data, therefore, but for the unions the downside is heavy. «Given a 7% increase in take-offs, we are recording a 15 and even 20% decrease in staff in all areas of the Venetian airport» states Ivano Traverso, Fit-Cisl secretary, underlining that the exit from the years of lockdown, during which flights were almost cancelled, there was a continuous rise in air traffic but a decline in the number of employees.
THE ALARM
Already during the pandemic, the unions had repeatedly reported that work at the airport is no longer as attractive as it used to be when, instead, it was highly coveted both for the good wages and for the prestige deriving from being part of a team that flew airplanes. aeri. «Stress, exhausting shifts, increasingly low wages and high responsibility that falls on the shoulders of operators mean that fewer and fewer people approach the airport sector and more and more people quit» continues Traverso. According to the trade unions, there is a general decline in quality control “and the only ones who show they care are the airlines who take it out on the handling companies with complaints and financial penalties”.
THE NUMBERS
The handlers are the companies that guarantee ground services for companies and travelers (check-in, lost and found, baggage, ramp, bus transport on the aprons… ), and at Marco Polo there are two, Gh and Aviation Service , the first with 350 permanent workers (which in the season should reach 600 and instead, according to the unions, stop at a maximum of 480), the second with 240 permanent workers (in the summer season they should reach 350-400, and instead , again for trade unions, do not exceed 320 in a situation of chronic shortage). Then there are the 350-400 workers of Sicuritalia (formerly Triveneto Sicurezza) who are responsible for checking the airport gates for baggage and passengers, also understaffed, and also those of Save: in total 650 employees, including office workers and 300 operational (PRM employees for travelers with reduced mobility, BHS baggage management, information, VIP room…). «Even Save was forced to publish advertisements on websites seeking personnel, and the two handlers had to move personnel from bases in southern Italy. – adds the Fit-Cisl secretary – But when the companies complain about the poor quality of the services, the handlers take it out on the staff with serious consequences on the quality of life and safety in the workplace: we move less and more quickly, and the risk of getting hurt is higher. It is no coincidence that the air transport sector in Italy is the one hit by the most strikes, unfortunately with few results so the issues remain unresolved and people are unhappy.”
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