Vueling has signed a new collective agreement with its cabin crew, bringing an end to months of negotiations marked by frequent strikes. The peak of the conflict occurred when workers staged a three-month strike from November 2022 to January of this year, demanding wage improvements that the company had deemed “impossible to meet.”
Now, the signed agreement ensures wage increases for both 2022 and 2023. It also includes a scheme of raises tied to the company’s performance and the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) until 2025. Additionally, it addresses various aspects such as hiring practices, working conditions, breaks, and vacations, among others. Vueling emphasizes that this agreement with its cabin crew union allows for the continuity of the company’s business model “in the medium and long term.”
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For 2022, a consolidated wage increase of 4.5% was established, along with a non-consolidated payment of 0.8% of the total annual salary. Furthermore, an improvement in working conditions, equivalent to 1.2% of the wage bill, will be granted. For 2023, a consolidated increase of 3% has been agreed upon, which can reach 4%. An additional non-consolidated amount of up to 1.5% will also be paid. For the following years and until 2025, a scheme of consolidated and non-consolidated increases linked to the company’s performance and the CPI increase has been established.
The lack of a labor agreement with the staff had been hindering IAG’s investments in Vueling. In this regard, Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, had stated that reaching an agreement was “critical in determining the group’s investment in the company’s future.” The agreement with the cabin crew is a first step in trying to match the growth of the other airlines in the group. Vueling will now begin discussions with its pilots.
