INEM emergency helicopter pilots threaten strike action

The Civil Aviation Pilots Union of Portugal – Sindicato dos Pilotos da Aviação Civil (SPAC) – has delivered a strike notice on behalf of Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica (INEM) helicopter pilots.

In the notice, SPAC informs that ‘the strike will take the form of a total work stoppage, including overtime’.

It will take place during November on 16–18, 19–21, 22–24 and 27–27 between 20:00 on the first day to 08:00 on the last day of each of the four strike periods.

Minimum services will continue by decree, which SPAC has defined as the ‘fulfilment of the shifts included in the strikes periods at the Évora base’.

The strike covers pilots employed by Spanish company Avincis Aviation Portugal, which holds the contract to operate INEM’s medical emergency helicopters.

It was reported in September that INEM pilots were complaining that Avincis Aviation Portugal was not respecting minimum rest periods – leading to pilots being overworked and fatigued – as well as not having a company agreement that protect their rights. The pilots said that the lack of rest jeopardises not only their safety but that of the patients they transport. Sources told Expresso in September that there are days when they work more than 16 hours without being paid for it.

SPAC’s complaints have denounced the ‘abuses by Avincis’ in drawing up schedules and counting pilots’ hours of service, exceeding the legally permitted annual flying hours.

“There is a risk that INEM will be unable to operate its helicopters from mid-November. By then, the pilots – more than 30 – will have exceeded the maximum annual legal limits of flying hours recognised by Avincis,” warned SPAC.

It concluded the strike notice by saying it aims ‘to put an end to the violations of the applicable legislation, so that there are all the conditions for pilots to carry out their work in a climate of labour peace and full operational safety’.