IPMA says it "scrupulously" complied with minimum services

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) clarified this Sunday that it “scrupulously complied” with its minimum service obligations regarding Friday’s strike by meteorological observers in the Azores.

In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the institute's board of directors states that it "scrupulously fulfilled its obligations, in terms of adopting all appropriate measures to comply with minimum services, without violating the right to strike, which constitutes a fundamental right of workers, enshrined in the Constitution, which the IPMA, as a State Laboratory, naturally respects."

SATA Air Açores (responsible for inter-island flights) reorganized its air operations on Saturday due to Friday's strike by IPMA workers, which forced the cancellation of 42 flights, "affecting around three thousand passengers", a situation that "seriously compromised mobility in the archipelago".

"The airline was surprised by the failure to meet the agreed minimum services, which caused serious operational constraints as it compromised basic public service obligations," SATA said in a press release.

The management of the Azorean aviation group also reiterated its intention to “be compensated for the losses caused by the strike and the failure to comply with minimum services.”

According to the company, on August 8, "the IPMA presidency confirmed to the SATA group's management that compliance with minimum services was being safeguarded, but this did not happen." This Sunday, in a statement, the IPMA clarified that it received strike notice from the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers' Unions on July 29 and "immediately discussed appropriate initiatives with its supervisory authority."

It adds that it informed SATA of the situation, through its regional delegate in the Azores, and the company “sent a written communication on August 8, informing of the minimum services established by the 2024 TA [Arbitration Court] ruling”. The institute also states that on Wednesday (August 13) “SATA communicated to the IPMA a rectification of flights that serve essential social needs”.

Given the union's continued strike, the institute "sent, on the same day, to all potentially affected services, the flights that should be provided within the scope of minimum services and in accordance with case law."

“From the information collected so far, of the 44 flights requested by SATA (based on the court ruling), 36 of these flights took place, with the other cancellations not related to the lack of meteorological information,” IPMA claims.

According to the note, on all islands of the Autonomous Region of the Azores “there was at least one touch [landing and take-off]” and, “of the total scheduled departures/arrivals (216), 64% were carried out, that is, well above the minimum requested by SATA”.

The IPMA also highlights that, in “close coordination and collaboration with the Government of the Azores, it has invested significantly in improving the security and protection of people and property in the autonomous region, as evidenced by the inauguration and entry into operation, in the last two years, of the new radars in Ponta Delgada and Flores, which have contributed greatly to aeronautical operationality and safety”.