Iberia airline workers in Spain protest against the company's plan for a low-cost carrier, threatening strikes and demanding better working conditions.
Several hundred workers wearing badges representing pilots, cabin crews and ground staff, blew whistles and waved signs reading 'We are fed up' and demanding decent work conditions, outside the airline's headquarters in Madrid.
They were protesting the airline's creation Iberia Express, a budget carrier expected to open by April, over fears that salaries for new recruits will be reduced.
'How is it possible for them to launch a low-cost business with the same costs? Clearly they are going to lower salaries,' said one protester, mechanic Alvaro Peral, 48.
'They want to wind down Iberia's activities and liquidate the company. They want to do away with Iberia,' said another, Chema Lorenzo, 37, a baggage handler who has worked for Iberia for 14 years.
Iberia pilots have announced strikes for January 25, 27 and 30 with cabin crew to decide on Friday whether to join in.
Unions for ground crews have also approved a separate open-ended series of strikes for February.
Iberia said in a statement on Thursday that this month's strikes would cause 289 flight cancellations over the three days, mostly within Spain and Europe.
Two thirds of its flights would run as scheduled on those days, it said.
