The Association of State Workers (ATE) announced this Friday the suspension of the strike at the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) scheduled for next Monday, February 9, thus ensuring the normal operation of flights at the start of the week. According to Argentine News Agency, the decision was made after the new authorities of the Ministry of Transport urgently summoned the union to a meeting to unblock the conflict. "We are postponing the strike action for Monday because, from the very beginning, our intention was dialogue," confirmed Mercedes Cabezas, deputy general secretary of National ATE. "We had been carrying out various actions at the airports without reaching a strike, as it is the last resort, and apparently the government heard the claim," added Cabezas. In turn, Marcelo Belleli, head of ATE ANAC, warned that the suspension is conditional: "We will dialogue postponing the strike, but we do not renounce the claims that led us to this measure of force." The union reported that while the negotiation is underway, air operations will be normal. However, if an agreement is not reached in the meeting with officials, a new assembly will be called to define the steps to follow. The leader explained that the conflict originated due to "a salary debt and the non-compliance with a previously agreed-upon increase." The strike, which was set to begin at 00:00 on Monday, threatened to affect airport operations during the peak season.
