Travel Chaos Looms: Argentina’s Air Traffic to Face Widespread Delays Today Due to Labor Protest
Air travelers across Argentina are being warned to brace for significant disruptions to their domestic and international journeys today, Monday. The widespread delays are a result of planned labor assemblies being carried out by workers of the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) at the country’s 21 main airports.
The action, organized by the Association of State Workers (ATE), is a coordinated protest over what the union calls a “severe deterioration” of wages and working conditions for ANAC personnel. The assemblies—which are essentially organized work stoppages—will be used to discuss and press for urgent demands.
Why Are Workers Protesting?
Union leaders from ATE have pointed to multiple factors fueling the current conflict:
- Erosion of Purchasing Power: ATE claims that ANAC workers have lost a staggering 45% of their purchasing power over the last two years under the current government, noting that their collective bargaining agreement has not been opened for new negotiations.
- Safety Concerns: ATE Secretary-General Rodolfo Aguiar issued a stark warning, stating that the current situation “threatens the safety of all flights.” He cited budget cuts, increased labor flexibility, and a lack of sufficient personnel as factors that have drastically reduced control capacity, leading to non-compliance with international safety audits from bodies like ICAO.
- Key Demands: Workers are pushing for the immediate reopening of collective bargaining, substantial wage improvements, the conversion of temporary contracts to permanent positions, and an increase in crucial supplements and bonuses.
The union argues that its aviation workers are “stressed and fatigued by multiple tasks” and that the government is responsible for the crisis. They contend the issues can only be resolved by hiring sufficient personnel and addressing the wage damage caused by inflation.
Advice for Travelers
With assemblies taking place throughout the day, passengers should anticipate additional waiting times and possible flight changes.
All travelers flying into or out of Argentina today are strongly advised to:
- Contact their airline directly or check the airline’s official website and app for the absolute latest status of their flight.
- Allow for extra time when traveling to the airport.
- Remain alert for official announcements from airport and airline authorities.
Conclusion
Today’s planned assemblies by ANAC workers represent a serious challenge to Argentina’s air travel sector, signaling deep unrest over economic and safety concerns within the civil aviation authority. While the action is primarily aimed at pressuring the government for concessions on wages and working conditions, the immediate consequence is major travel disruption for thousands of passengers across the country’s key airports.
Affiliate Disclosure
This news report does not contain affiliate links. The information provided is for general awareness of travel disruptions.
Disclaimer
All flight-related information and advice on potential delays are based on the strike announcement by the Association of State Workers (ATE). Travelers must confirm their flight status directly with their respective airlines or the official airport information channels before traveling to the airport.
