The human capital ministry announced on Tuesday that the air traffic controller’s strikes that had been affecting domestic and international flights had been suspended.
The decision comes after the government imposed what is known as a “compulsory conciliation,” a legal instrument that lifts the protest and orders negotiations to be resumed. In a statement published on X, the ministry added that the mandatory negotiation process will start on Tuesday, December 23, at 8 a.m., and will run for two weeks.
During that time, workers must abstain from any type of protests as both parties meet to resolve pending matters. This means that the remaining strikes included in the original schedule (one for Tuesday and the other two for the Saturday and Monday following Christmas) have now been suspended.
The strikes had been announced on December 15 by the Association of Air Navigation Security and Protection Technicians and Employees (ATEPSA), the air traffic controllers union, after it failed to reach an agreement with the state-run Argentine Air Navigation Company (EANA).
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.
In response to the strikes, the government, through the EANA, filed a criminal complaint against the air traffic controllers, accusing the union of violating operational safety rules by placing flags on the control towers of Jorge Newbery Airport and Ezeiza International Airport.
What to do if you’ve been affected If your flight suffered any modifications ahead of your trip or when you are already in the airport, the first thing you should do is check for updates from the airline where you got your ticket. Airlines normally send emails to passengers informing them of any changes.
You can also go to their website and social media to see if they posted any message there regarding changes to the flights, or check the state of your reservation in their website or at the Aeropuertos Argentina website here.
Contact your travel agency if you got your ticket through one.
Airlines generally offer passengers the chance to rebook their flights for free or get a refund for unused tickets when flights are canceled or delayed due to strikes.