Government warns it will cede Aerolineas Argentinas operations to private companies if protests continue
The government of President Javier Milei announced Thursday that it will cede control of the operations of state-owned Aerolineas Argentinas to private hands in the event that the unions continue with their protests, which in recent weeks have caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
El portavoz presidencial Manuel Adorni dijo a periodistas que el gobierno “ha iniciado conversaciones con varias empresas privadas latinoamericanas para que se hagan cargo de la operación de la compañía, en caso de que las extorsiones que están recibiendo los argentinos con este tipo de medidas continúen”.
The government’s standoff with Aerolíneas Argentinas’ pilots and flight attendants unions has been increasing in recent weeks in the context of the demand for salary increases by the company’s workers.
The unions claim that due to inflation, salaries are 75% out of line and have asked for a 25% increase and to continue negotiating. The company offered 11% within the framework of the public expense reduction policies implemented by Milei.
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Cumulative inflation between January and August was 94.8%, while year-on-year inflation reached 236.7%.
This Thursday, the unions representing the company’s pilots and flight attendants are planning to hold assemblies that would disrupt air operations. At the same time, workers of the National Civil Aviation Administration -which provide complementary services in different terminals- were on strike demanding salary increases which, for the time being, do not affect flights.
In addition to the salary claim, the union members accuse the Executive of seeking the “de-financing” of the national airline in order to later move forward with its privatization.
Last week, a 24-hour strike called by Aerolíneas Argentinas’ pilots and cabin crew unions grounded some 37,000 passengers on domestic and international flights, generating losses of US$2.5 million. A previous strike had affected some 15,000 passengers.
On the other hand, airline employees’ assemblies held on different dates caused cancellations and delays of hundreds of flights.
The government has been lashing out at what it considers “labor privileges” of the national airline’s employees and claims that they earn between 3 and 20 million pesos (between 3,000 and 20,300 dollars) per month.
On Monday, an Executive Decree was published which establishes that those who intend to protest must give notice to the corresponding authorities at least five days prior to the date chosen. In the event that the parties do not agree on minimum services, they may not be less than 50% of “the normal and regular provision of services”.
With information from AP
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