According to Nasser before SOL, Montepio hired a financial intermediary to sell his shares in Groundforce, vacating the bank’s debt collection department led by Pedro Leitau. The Chinese investment bank Bison Bank (which received the banking license Banif – Banco de Investimento) has in its hands the organization of the auction of Groundforce shares owned by businessman Alfredo Casimiro, which are pledged. Our newspaper knows that the investment bank has already received optional offers for 50.1% of the shares.

This is a race against time, as the Minister of Infrastructure gave parliamentary assurances this week that he is convinced of the imminent sale of shares and, as a result, Alfredo Casimiro’s departure from the control of the operator. “We are monitoring and expecting that the selling process by those who have the right to sell will be completed successfully, and this will mean the emergence of a partner with the financial capabilities so that we can start a stable life,” said Pedro Nuno Santos. adding that “if Montepio fails to sell, the government or TAP will find a solution.”

And he recalled that the government was working on a solution and that it was only “suspended to allow for the sale process,” which has not happened so far.

The government official also clarified that he did not push for the nationalization of Groundforce, as he did with Efacec, to avoid the “risk of litigation,” given the complexity of these processes, which could lead to compensation.

Suspended strike, but not for everyone

Following chaos over the weekend over a strike by ground forces that resulted in the cancellation of more than 600 flights and affected thousands of passengers, a situation that has led Pedro Nuno Santos to consider it unfair to blame TAP for the workers’ strike. and to the President of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation, speaking of a “dramatic” event – the Airport Technicians’ Union (STHA) canceled a strike scheduled for July 31, August 1 and 2.

The decision came after a compromise was found with the government, which ensures that vacation pay and premiums are paid before July salaries are processed to all employees in the company.

It should be recalled that this Wednesday, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced that TAP will pay directly to the workers of the transshipment company the amount corresponding to vacation and overdue years, “without the consent or consent of those who control the ground forces.” …

But despite the fact that STHA went on strike, other union structures will continue to suspend. “STTAMP and STAMA will maintain strike advance notices for Groundforce until the actual payout date, as the two unions have already reached a vacation pay agreement in the recent past, with the same denied by Alfredo Casimiro, who despite the inevitable shareholder structure change , is still the chairman of the board of directors today, ”the statement said.

The ANA executive president also said that the situation at the airports over the weekend could not be repeated and deemed it impossible to postpone the revocation of the occupation license any longer. “We are aware of the great difficulties faced by workers, but this situation [vividas no passado fim de semana] it cannot be repeated, otherwise, in this context of instability, many companies that will need an operation this summer to survive will face the same difficulties, ”said Thierry Ligonier.

We are talking about the revocation of the hosting license from Groundforce, which claims that the service company owes 769.6 thousand euros in hosting fees. In this draft resolution of the ANA executive committee, the group clarifies that, as the concessionaire to the airport’s public service, it is responsible for “licensing the occupation and implementation of activities and services in the airport domain assets included in the concession scope.” As well as all acts that relate to “enforcement , changes and revocation of licenses ”.

Why is this influence?

Since TAP is a shareholder in Groundforce, the airline will inevitably use the company to provide maintenance services. In fact, to minimize the impact of the shutdown last weekend, the airline clarified that the passenger can request travel compensation.

If the ticket has already been purchased from a travel agency, TAP advises you to contact them. However, if you still do not know where the baggage is and the final destination is not Lisbon or Porto, and if you do not already have a baggage compartment number, TAP will ask you to go to the airline’s website.

But Groudforce isn’t the only one operating at national airports. Portway, the result of a joint venture between Fraport AG and ANA, Aeroportos de Portugal, also provides cargo handling services in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Beja, with more than 80 airlines as its customers, with a focus on low-cost fares. companies. This meant that the stop did not affect passengers with flights booked for these companies.