The National Ministry of Labor issued this Monday, January 10, a compulsory conciliation to avoid union actions by air traffic controllers and technicians, who assured in the last hours that they will comply with the resolution.
The Asociación Técnicos y Empleados de Protección y Seguridad a la Aeronavegación (ATEPSA) had anticipated that the union actions, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 11, could cause delays and cancellations of flights all over the country.
The union, which groups air traffic controllers, aeronautical information personnel and aviation technicians, said it expects that in the next few days the Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA) “will begin to give answers” to its demands.
In this list of demands, the shortage of personnel stands out, according to the union, which “worsened as a result of the pandemic” of coronavirus, and the reopening of the discussion of the 2021 labor agreement, “as it was stipulated in July”.
The resolution ordered by the National Ministry of Labor came into effect as of 11:00 p.m. on Monday and will be extended for 15 days, at the same time that the labor portfolio called for a hearing which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 20.
The union action measures announced for this week in the middle of the high summer season could generate more disturbances in the country’s airports, after the delays and cancellations ordered by Aerolíneas Argentinas due to the number of cases.
The announced union action measures could cause further disruptions at the country’s airports.
The flag carrier announced this Monday afternoon that seven flights had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 infections and close contacts, six domestic flights and one returning to Argentina from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
“Due to the high incidence of contagions among @Aerolineas_AR personnel and external to the company, we were forced to cancel 7 flights today out of the 230 operations scheduled for the date,” confirmed the company’s president, Pablo Ceriani.
He added: “We are working to relocate as many passengers as possible. We ask you to check your e-mails where we will inform you of any news regarding your flight schedules and the different alternatives.
