The Ministry of Human Capital has mandated compulsory conciliation for 15 days after the company made no offer to the union's demands. The compulsory conciliation will nullify the action plan promoted by the Association of Technicians and Employees for Aircraft Protection and Security (ATEPSA), which included a strike this Tuesday, May 23, for 'Domestic Aviation (from) 19:00 to 22:00 local time', a labor action on Saturday, May 27, for 'International Aviation (from) 14:00 to 17:00 local time', and a halt to all aviation activities on Monday, May 29, 'from 8:00 to 11:00 local time'. According to union sources confirmed to Ámbito, the government 'offered nothing' to reach an agreement. The union states that the measures are being carried out under defined protocols and are due to the company's lack of response. In particular, they denounced the installation of flags and signs at the control towers of Aeroparque and Ezeiza, pointing out the risk of potential detachment of these elements. The union defends its position, arguing that the conflict stems from the breakdown of dialogue, breach of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, recent layoffs, and a sustained loss of purchasing power for sector workers. The compulsory conciliation is valid for 15 days and can be extended for another 15 days, forcing the Association of Technicians and Employees for Aircraft Protection and Security (ATEPSA) to suspend its strike actions. The strike promoted by the Association of Technicians and Employees for Aircraft Protection and Security (ATEPSA) takes place within the context of the conflict over salary demands with the state-owned Empresa Argentina de Navegación Aérea (EANA). The company has already filed a criminal complaint with the Federal Criminal and Correctional Court No. 3, presided over by Judge Daniel Eduardo Rafecas, but failed to defuse the conflict. The government's conflict with air traffic controllers remains unresolved. ATEPSA expressed its intention to 'Reinstate fired colleagues, and review several points of the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement),' they told this medium. Additionally, ATEPSA detailed the delays they perceive from the national government. From EANA, they warned that the service interruption and certain actions taken during the first days of protest compromised operational safety. The demands are for: 'Per diem for meals (not updated since December 2024)'; 'Airport Complexity (not updated since February 2024)'; 'Seniority calculation (not updated since 2023)'. The strike action affected around 40,000 passengers last week, who suffered cancellations and rescheduling of domestic and international flights. 'The conflict was not about salary scales. It was about the breach of the previous agreement.' This Monday, a meeting was held between the union, Empresa Argentina de Navegación Aérea (EANA), and the Undersecretariat of Labor of the Nation, Claudia Testa, to unblock the strike affecting thousands of passengers, but no agreement was reached.
Argentina Government Mandates Compulsory Conciliation in Air Traffic Controllers' Conflict
Argentina's Ministry of Human Capital has declared a 15-day mandatory conciliation after the state-owned company EANA failed to meet the demands of the air traffic controllers' union ATEPSA. The conflict stems from the breach of the collective agreement, layoffs, and workers' loss of purchasing power. Strikes planned for several days have been suspended, but the core issue remains unresolved.
