Unions representing Iberia’s ground staff and cabin crew have announced six days of strike action, to be staged before Christmas.

The dates announced for industrial action are December 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st.

The strikes are being held in protest at restructuring plans announced by the airline’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG). The plan, announced on 9 November, aims to stem the carrier’s cash losses by mid-2013 and add €600 million to profitability by 2015.

IAG says that cutting network capacity by 15% and reducing headcount by 4,500 will help it do this. At the time, Rafael Sánchez-Lozano, Iberia’s chief executive, said: “Iberia is in fight for survival. It is unprofitable in all its markets. We have to take tough decisions now to save the company and return it to profitability. Unless we take radical action to introduce permanent structural change the future for the airline is bleak. However this plan gives us a platform to turn the business around and grow.”

The leaders of five unions representing Iberia staff – UGT, CCOO, USO, Asetma and Sictpla  – say they “will not be complicit in a plan that
would destroy Iberia” and have refused to negotiate with the airline’s management.