They ask Airlines to restore salaries or threaten a new conflict

The four aeronautical unions that carried out around twenty protest measures between August and October at Aerolíneas Argentinas and Intercargo requested a meeting from the president of the state airline, Fabián Lombardo.to resume the joint discussion.”

The conflict between Airlines and the unions generated isolated measures of force in the first half of the year, but escalated to become a permanent conflict during the months of August, September and October, with more than 20 measures of force that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded or with their flights interrupted.

The four unions that were involved in that conflict were the same ones that this Wednesday sent the letter to the president of Aerolíneas: the Airline Pilots Association (APLA), at Aircraft Association (AAA), the Aeronautical Personnel Association (APA) and Senior Staff Union (UPSA).

In the letter addressed to Lombardo, the unions indicated that the conflict that ended a little over a month ago could escalate again.

“We emphasize the need for continue advancing in a solution that restores the income of our represented parties given the salary delay that has damaged the purchasing power of the group’s workers. We expect a positive response from the company to the meeting request,” they noted.

In voiceover, one of the leaders pointed out that the agreements that were closed last month cover salary increases until the end of October. “We already have November and December in, which was eaten up by inflation. It depends on the attitude of the company, “There is going to be a conflict now.”

From Airlines they indicated that the union request “is normal” within the framework of a joint discussion, but they assured that there will not be a new conflict like the one in recent months.

“Surely there will be conversations during the month of Januarybut they have to send the note requesting the meeting from now on, which is logical,” company spokespersons added.

The salary increase for the June-November semester for pilots, as agreed, would be 16%, added to a productivity incentive mechanism. “Those who fly the most will earn the most,” was the criterion communicated by Aerolíneas.

The productivity of Aerolíneas Argentinas pilots is lower than that of their colleagues from other airlines in the region. As a comparison mechanism, it is often mentioned that a transoceanic flight commander does not exceed 40 to 50 hours per month against 70 hours of a competitor from LATAM, Copa or Avianca.

Also modified, in some cases with immediate compliance and in others for after the high season, modifications in the pilots’ collective agreement such as free tickets in business class for pilots and their immediate families, rest on birthdays and time of work computed from the moment the driver picks them up at their home, among other points.

Other issues are linked to shortening rest times in remote destinations such as Madrid and Rome, no longer having a business class seat during flight time and a sharp reduction in discounted tickets for almost their entire value (at 25% of its nominal value) for pilots, crew members and their families.