The State Workers' Association (ATE) announced a national strike at all airports in the country for next Monday, February 2. This measure threatens to paralyze activity at more than 27 airports and cause massive flight cancellations. The conflict arose after the union denounced the non-compliance with a previously agreed-upon salary increase and the lack of payment of corresponding dues for workers of the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC). The union justified the strike on the Executive Branch's decision to reverse the parity updates, which led to a financial uncertainty situation for the sector's personnel. In this regard, the general secretary of ATE, Rodolfo Aguiar, stated through his official channels that the Government decided to “reverse a salary increase already agreed upon, recalculate salaries and leave workers without pay.” The union leader was also firm in stating that “the delay and cancellation of flights will be the exclusive responsibility of the Government.” Sources close to the union informed the Argentine News Agency that the protest will begin at 00:00 hours on Monday and involves critical operational sectors such as ground control, firefighters, health, inspectors, and administrative staff. From the union organization, they argued that the challenge to the current agreement came from a union outside the specific convention, which aggravated administrative tension. “ATE will not allow the incapacity and ineptitude of some union leader and the political pressures of the Government to leave workers without salaries and without a raise,” stated Aguiar. The strike measure will affect activity in more than 27 airports across the country. While the state of permanent assembly is maintained and work stoppages prior to Monday are not ruled out, the union clarified that only services for State, health, humanitarian flights, and organ transplants will be guaranteed. Finally, the union directly held ANAC and the Transport and Public Employment areas responsible for the consequences of the measure, under the warning that these failures in negotiations “generate insecurity and more precariousness” in the national aviation sector.
