Cabin crew members of SATA Air Açores, the company that operates inter-island flights, are on strike between the 18th and 24th of this month, in a work stoppage called by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC).

The union’s president, Ricardo Penarróias, says that “over the years, the company has devalued Sata Air Açores crew members,” who “demand the same conditions as other workers in the group.”

According to the union leader, speaking to the LUSA news agency, the agreement negotiated and the proposal presented for salary increases are “below expectations” for the approximately 60 workers.

Problems with working conditions on board the Dash 200 are also mentioned. “They are terrible, not only in terms of noise, but also the heat inside the planes, which is unbearable,” he says.

SATA has already confirmed that it has received the strike notice, but has not said whether it is open to further negotiations with SNPVAC.

The president of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, said in statements to Antena 1/Açores that “from the point of view of the impact that such a decision, if implemented, will have, it is good that we are all aware of this.”

“The company is not in a healthy financial and economic situation; it is in a very difficult situation. To penalize the sustainability of the company is to jeopardize the company itself, employability, and therefore the workers,” he said.

“I think it would be good for all of us to have an open dialogue, with awareness of the state of the company, employability, its continuity, and also respect for workers’ rights. But without a company, there are no jobs, without an employer, there are no workers, and the company’s sustainability is effectively in a difficult situation. This situation cannot be ignored, as can be seen in the accounts that are repeatedly presented,“ added José Manuel Bolieiro.

He said he respected ”the exercise of workers’ rights“ but called for ”responsibility, awareness, and understanding.”

The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party/Azores announced yesterday that it will present a proposal to the Regional Legislative Assembly next week for an independent audit by the Court of Auditors on the implementation of the restructuring plan and the financial situation of the SATA group between 2020 and 2024.

“SATA has received more than €450 million in public support, and yet its financial situation continues to deteriorate. It is urgent to understand what went wrong and to ensure that the people of the Azores have access to the truth about the management of the company and the impact of the Regional Government’s political choices,” said the vice president of the PS/Azores, Carlos Silva.

The party argued in a statement that “in view of losses of more than €200 million since 2021 and a negative result of €83 million in 2024 – the year in which the plan envisaged the group’s financial equilibrium – it is essential to ensure total transparency and rigor in the assessment of the management of the Azorean airline.”

In Diário Insular – José Lourenço, director.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.