Swissport industrial action at Brussels Airport

[9vsmu]

@inquirer, note that BRU has 2 handlers and that only one of them is on strike (swissport). If you fly an airline that is handled by Aviapartner, there might be no problem, unless the strikers block passport control or bag area.

[Inquirer]

I know, but I was on a fully packed b.air flight however.

[sean1982]

It makes my blood boil if I read statements form the head of the union that say:"We will not except that companies would service their own airplanes as an emergency solution, as that would be a "breaking" of the strike"

Just for info since there is no room for discussion with you...

Offcourse this is propaganda... But are you not able to look through that?

But did you know that the bcaa does not allow self-handling unless in special occasions (like today). I saw a picture of passengers unloading an airbus while standing behind its (probably still hot) engines... Where is safety then?

Since you apperently are a cabin crew... Well then if you go on daystop to let's say Berlin which is kind of the same as a split shift. You probably get a 4 star hotel room during the day because you've got something like legal rest. Well this legal rest does not really exist with handlers. With all my respect but you are on a trone my friend... With all these rest and duty regulations protecting it.

Who says there's is no discussing with me? Just come up with a better argument then.
Who's fault is it that the pax were unloading the bags themselves? Surely not their own. SInce the unions are blocking other (safe) ways for the planes to be handled right now, their is no other solution is there?

Seems that they only care about their own safety then. I've gone through quite a few handling strikes since I've been flying and the way we did it was the the crew (yes pilots and cabin crew) offloaded the bags for the pax.

And just a note, don't think the duty and rest regulations are that spectacular. I can also fly a whole week with 12 hours on duty (up to fourteen on discretion) with 12 hours rest after (which start half an hour after blocks on, not when you arrive home) and again and again and again up to 6 days in a row. Me on a throne?? Allow me to say Ha Ha Ha

[rwandan-flyer]

SN 465 canceled (3rd one in 1 week ) and SN453 probably canceled. It's very strange cause since one week, ok for many reasons, most of SN flights to East Africa are canceled, while in West & Central Africa it seems that everything is "ok"

[Nazgul]

I flew yesterday with Croatia Airlines from Brussels to Zagreb and we had a problem. Delay was 1,5 hour (no problem there) but we couldn't get our luggage and for me that was a problem, because no one told us there will be industrial action and I left all my stuff at check in, only took laptop with me, no wardrobe, no nothing, I was also stupid to left my insulin in suitcase and now have only enough for 3 days The problem is even bigger because Croatian Airlines is on strike from today (with no solution on the horizon) and no one knows when the luggage will be retrieved. Pilots and crew tried to retrieve our luggage at brussels (they knew it will problem because they are on strike from today so they wanted to save us from more trouble) and the plane was half empty (only cca. 40-50 people) but Swissport refused to give them luggage as they hold it as a hostage Now I'm really pissed off as we got in center of 2 strikes which affect us (as passengers) greatly

[sn26567]

File a claim for lost luggage at Croatia Airlines (usually this is possible on Internet), and your baggage will be delivered at your hotel.

[b720]

that is horrible!! One thing they do not want to offload luggage, another they keep luggage as ransom?
Affected passengers like you, and airlines must sue Swissport into bankruptcy! They behave like that, they do not deserve to work, honestly! All those on strike must be fired without compensation!

[sean1982]

According to some here that's all perfectly acceptable
I call it criminal and would call the police for being robbed of my luggage

[tolipanebas]

What police?
They are understaffed too, you know?
Some colleagues called the airport police in an effort to calm down a few angry pax and their answer was: "We have no time for that, we're too bussy right now."

[sean1982]

Calm the pax down? They have every right to be pissed off

[cnc]

They are understaffed too, you know?

too? swissport isn't understaffed. they just lost 12% of their flights and even more if you count in bags

[RoMax]

Calm the pax down? They have every right to be pissed off

Of course, but they are not just angry at Swissport (many don't even realise it's Swissport that's striking). Passengers are angry at the airlines they are flying with and at the airport. SN and BRU are at the front line, while they are victims as well. Many passengers don't seem to understand that and get aggressive while staff of the airlines and airport try to cool them down.

[tolipanebas]

Calm the pax down? They have every right to be pissed off

I'm talking about physically aggressive pax here, literally hitting cabin crew when being told their luggage will not be transferred onto their connecting flight... Is such behaviour okay for you too?

[sean1982]

No there is no excuse for physical violence, although I do understand their anger. They get robbed of their belongings by these retards and then they get the police called on them because they are angry about it. God knows what they have in there that they need urgently, like medical supplies etc...

Welcome to Belgium

[tolipanebas]

No there is no excuse for physical violence, although I do understand their anger. They get robbed of their belongings by these retards and then they get the police called on them because they are angry about it. God knows what they have in there that they need urgently, like medical supplies etc...

There's nothing to understand.
You do NOT punch, push or hit frontliners because they happen to bring you unpleasant news. Period.

[sean1982]

That's what I said no? The cabin crew should have pretented they didn't know what was going to happen with the luggage and refer the pax to the Swissport desk or the police station. After all it's their responsibility, but hey, as long as their personnel is safe, right?

[cnc]

bad times to walk around in the terminal with a badge, i even skip my quick visit

[tolipanebas]

cabin crew should have pretented they didn't know what was going to happen with the luggage

That's not really a very helpful nor honest attitude towards distressed customers, is it?
I think the aim should always be to inform correctly, even if it is unpleasant news you bring, but obviously such an open attitude does require certain minimum behavioural standards from customers too: sadly this is no longer guaranteed, given the 'vulgarisation' of air travel.

[cnc]

actually the airlines and/or tour operators should inform their pax. after more then 24h they have no more excuse not to notice them.

[b720]

airlines should follow Swiss and cancel flights, or divert. On the other hand the strike was already known on sunday, SN must have informed their pax. at outer-stations sunday (long haul) and monday morning EURO that their luggage might not appear again, ever! If Pax were not informed upon check in before they flew to BRU they have EVERY right to vent their anger at SN or airline they flew into BRU with. I think SWISSPORT strikers must be accused of robbery, and arrested.