Air traffic controllers announce new strikes as wage negotiations fall through

The air traffic controllers union announced that it had failed to reach an salary agreement with the state-run Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA) and that it would resume strikes in February. At time of writing, no dates had been given for when that will happen.  The Association of Air Navigation Security and Protection Technicians and Employees (ATEPSA) union had already staged a series of strikes in December due to failed wage negotiations.  These actions, however, were halted after the government imposed what is known as a compulsory conciliation, a legal instrument that lifts the protest and orders negotiations to be resumed. The announcement of more strikes comes as the time period mandated by the government order has now expired.  In its original demands presented in December, the union was demanding the reinstatement of workers dismissed without cause at understaffed airports, a review of meal allowances, recognition of seniority, a resolution of more than 60 pending operational issues, and the reopening of collective bargaining. Air traffic controllers are a key part of aeronautical operations, as they are responsible for supervising traffic from control towers and area control centers, coordinating aircraft separation, and guiding both takeoffs and landings. Without them, no planes could take off or land at airports.