The government of Javier Milei announced this Thursday (19) that it has begun talks with private Latin American companies to “take over the operation” of the state-owned Aerolíneas Argentinas, as a result of the conflict with aeronautical unions demanding better wages.
“Due to the persistent strikes called by the union led by [Pablo] Biró and company, which affected around 40 thousand passengers, the national government has begun talks with several Latin American private companies to finally take over the operation of Aerolíneas Argentinas, if the extortion that Argentines are receiving continues”, announced the presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, in a press conference.
Sources in the government cabinet told EFE that Adorni’s announcement is about “other companies taking over the routes that Aerolíneas is not covering due to the strike.”
The strike that Adorni commented on was led by the Airline Pilots Association (APLA) and the Argentine Aeronautics Association (AAA) between noon last Friday (13) and Saturday (14), for 24 hours, which affected around 37 thousand passengers and cost Aerolíneas Argentinas more than US$ 2.5 million.
The official announcement coincides with a strike today by administrative staff at the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), a measure that does not affect flights.
“In a private company, if you go on strike, you will be fired. The intention is that this will be the fate of those who make life difficult for thousands of Argentines with these measures,” Adorni said.
The Ministry of Security denounced this Wednesday (18) Biró, who is the secretary general of APLA, for threats and extortion.
APLA, together with three other unions in the sector, has been holding a series of assemblies and strikes at Argentine airports since August, demanding better wages.
Although the government of Javier Milei had intended to privatize Aerolíneas Argentinas, the company was left out of the list of public companies to be privatized that the Executive included in its Law of Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines.
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