Here’s a summary of the article, broken down into key points:
* TAP Faces Meaningful Costs: TAP Air Portugal is facing potential costs of up to 300 million euros due to legal rulings in favor of cabin crew.
* Union Action: The National union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) is preparing to file the first of 700 legal actions seeking reinstatement and compensation for cabin crew by the end of the year.
* Supreme court Ruling: The core of the issue stems from a Supreme Court of Justice (STJ) decision that found TAP improperly dismissed cabin crew, notably those with fixed-term contracts. The court ruled these crew members should have been considered permanent employees and are entitled to compensation.
* Discrimination Issue: The Supreme Court and Administrative Court found a rule in TAP’s company agreement discriminatory,as it provided lower remuneration and slower salary progression for fixed-term contract workers compared to permanent employees.
* Constitutional Court Confirmation: The Constitutional Court rejected TAP’s appeal, making the ruling final and unchallengeable. This applies to approximately 2,000 crew members laid off during the pandemic and impacts an additional 2,000 (700 pending filings + 1,300 with existing fixed-term contracts).
* Pandemic Layoffs: The dispute largely centers around layoffs and non-renewal of fixed-term contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 – March 2021), when 1,514 employees left the company.
* previous Attempts at Resolution: The union criticizes previous and current governments for not addressing the issue proactively, leading to escalating costs through court battles.
* Partial Resolution Already: TAP has already readmitted 925 workers and paid 1.74 million euros in compensation, but this is a small fraction of the potential total cost.
In essence, the article details a long-running legal battle between TAP and its cabin crew, culminating in a definitive court ruling that could significantly impact the airline’s finances, especially as it undergoes privatization.
