Airport strike in Argentina to affect flights during four-day weekend

Airport workers under the State Workers Association union (ATE, by its Spanish initials) have announced a strike that will be carried out between March 18 and 24 during the mornings and evenings, potentially affecting flights during the next long weekend in Argentina, which extends till Tuesday 24, the National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice. The strike was planned by airport healthcare workers, firefighters, inspectors, administrative staff and land control personnel employed by the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) who are represented by ATE. According to the union, the strike was announced after the government failed to pay ANAC workers a salary raise that had been agreed by both parties. The strike will affect 27 airports there are up to 35 commercial airports in Argentina and will be carried out in two time frames: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 5 to 8 p.m. Only commercial flights will be affected, as sanitary, humanitarian and official government flights will be guaranteed. Workers will carry out their tasks normally between 1 and 5 p.m. during the duration of the protest, although there could be delays and cancellations affecting the rest of the operations. Since airport activities are considered essential since the Milei government took office, strikes must be announced with a minimum five days notice, and at least half the services must remain operational. Any cancellation or reschedule will be the sole responsibility of the national government, said in an X post ATE leader Rodolfo Aguiar. With no decent wages there are no workers, and without workers there is no state! ATE had already announced a 24-hour strike last month after the ANAC delayed the payment of its workers salaries and the agreed raise. The measure was suspended after the salaries were paid without the raise and a meeting was called for them to negotiate. However, ANAC has still not paid the raise, which led to the union to resume the protest.