Buenos Aires, December 14 (NA) -- The Air Navigation Technicians and Employees Association of Protection and Security (Atepsa), the air traffic controllers' union, announced a schedule of strikes that will affect both domestic and international flights in the coming weeks. However, “All operations of aircraft that may be declared in an emergency situation, as well as those providing sanitary, humanitarian, state and/or search and rescue services, are exempt from the measure,” they added. IP Meanwhile, EANA reaffirmed its willingness to dialogue and to continue negotiating. “ATEPSA attempted to unilaterally terminate the ongoing negotiation process,” the company stated, and considered that until the meetings are over, nothing is confirmed. They also clarified that the Ministry of Labor set a new hearing for Wednesday, December 17, at 10 a.m. with the aim of resolving the conflict and avoiding passenger disruptions. The strike actions were intensified after the failure of negotiations with the Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA). Atepsa had already carried out a series of operational disruptions in November, impacting cargo aviation, and alleged the breach of agreements signed by the company. Assuring that there was no response to their demands, the union decided to deepen its action plan. “Since the current authorities of EANA took office in 2024, they have shown brutal intransigence and an absence of dialogue, not only to resolve the salary issues of their workers, but also in the face of the serious operational situation we have been denouncing, both issues remain unanswered,” Atepsa stated in a communiqué accessed by the Argentine News Agency. Among the union's central demands are the reinstatement of workers dismissed without cause in airports with a staffing emergency, in addition to items such as the review of the meal allowance and seniority pay, responses to over 60 operational claims, and the reopening of collective bargaining. The union pointed out that these situations were raised more than three months ago without receiving answers. “Given the constant growth of air operations, the salary situation is distressing, as, violating the principles established by ICAO, air navigation service workers must have two or three jobs to make ends due to the lack of responses,” they indicated. The strikes will affect domestic and international flights. Photo: Agencia NA/Redes. The strike schedule defined by the union is as follows: Wednesday, December 17, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Impact on departures of flights to domestic destinations. Thursday, December 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Impact on departures of flights to domestic destinations. Tuesday, December 23, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Impact on departures of flights to domestic destinations. Saturday, December 27, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Impact on flights to international destinations at all airports in the country. Monday, December 29, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Impact on all aviation at all airports in the country. Atepsa indicated that the measure only affects aircraft departures, meaning that authorizations for aircraft on the ground will be restricted and flight plans will not be received or transmitted during the strike period.
