Iberia and the unions agree on an ERO that will affect 996 employees

BarcelonaIberia and the unions have reached an agreement this Monday to move forward with a voluntary redundancy plan (ERO) for 996 people. These employees will leave the company with 80% of their gross salary in case of early retirement and with 35 days per year worked for those under 60 years old, who will be offered incentivized departures. Out of Iberia's 10,700 employees, the ERO affects 996 people: 106 are pilots, 137 are cabin crew (TCP), and 753 are ground staff, including maintenance technicians and corporate services personnel.

The plan includes incentivized departures for those under 60 from all affected groups with an amount of 35 days and a cap of 30 monthly payments and a minimum of one annual payment; and early retirements from 61 years old for ground staff and pilots, and from 58 for cabin crew. The agreement has been signed by the company and the flight unions Sepla (pilots), Sitcpla, and Stavla (cabin crew or TCP), Candidatura Independent, UGT Vol, and CCOO Vol, along with the ground staff unions CCOO, UGT, and ASETMA (92% of the union sections). USO is the only union with representation that has not signed the agreement because it will submit it tomorrow to a consultation among its affiliates and will act according to the result, sources from the union told Efe.

Ground staff who have reached 60 years of age or older by December 31, 2026 (born in 1966 and earlier) and cabin crew aged 58 or older can opt for early retirement. The agreement establishes that of the 753 departures of ground staff, the company will offer a quota of incentivized departures (between 44 and 50) which, if not filled, would allow more people to leave through early retirement.

Ground staff will receive 80% of their regulatory salary (including an attendance bonus and an additional bonus) and a special agreement with Social Security until the point at which 100% of the ordinary retirement pension is guaranteed. The benefit will have a guaranteed increase of 2% until they turn 65. They will also be entitled to coverage from the Loreto mutual insurance until they are 65.

For passenger cabin crew, departures between the ages of 58 and 60 will start from an initial amount of 2,920.04 euros per month, revalued according to the collective agreement's salary revision, and will be increased by 2% for the years 2027 and 2028. For those leaving the company over 60 years of age, the amount will be equivalent to 100% of the pension that would have corresponded if they had completed 65 years of age at that time. Those under 60 years of age at the end of 2026 may request incentivized leave, in the case of ground staff, and 58 years of age in the case of passenger cabin crew. In this case, they will have to receive 35 days per year of service with a maximum of 30 monthly payments and a minimum of one annual payment. However, if the quota of redundancies foreseen with early retirements and incentivized leaves is not met, those born in 1967 may also benefit from this ERO.