Triumph for Argentinian air traffic controllers

August 3, 2017

ATEPSA general secretary Jonatan Doino signs the agreement.

ITF union ATEPSA (the Asociación Técnicos y Empleados de protección y Seguridad a la Aeronavegación) has successfully concluded bargaining with state company EANA SE after condemning labour violations and breaches of its collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

ATEPSA said that, thanks to the struggle of its members and the solidarity of the ITF and its unions, it has managed to negotiate important social and economic improvements for workers.

Major wins include:

• the company has agreed to incorporate precarious workers on fixed contracts into permanent contracts;

• the reinstatement of Ezequiel Rosas, a worker who was unjustifiably dismissed by EANA SE; and

• an agreement to increase wages by an average of 26 percent for workers in every category covered by the CBA, and for all workers, including those not within the CBA and who have a fixed contract.

Antonio Rodríguez Fritz, ITF Americas regional secretary, said: “This is a triumph of the commitment of the Argentine controllers who fight for labour justice. The ITF, together with its affiliates in the region, will always accompany unions in their fight against violations of human and labour rights.”

ITF civil aviation secretary Gabriel Mocho Rodríguez commented that this very important achievement established a standard for reviewing the situation of thousands of civil aviation workers in Argentina and the region, whose service ensured the safety of air operations around the world.

Several ITF unions expressed their solidarity with ATEPSA, including: the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), USA; Unión de Trabajadores del Transporte Marítimo, Aéreo, Terrestre y Afines (UTT), Uruguay; Unión de Trabajadores del Transporte Marítimo, Aéreo, Terrestre y Afines (ANFDGAC), Chile; Unión de Trabajadores del Transporte Marítimo, Aéreo, Terrestre y Afines (SNTT), Colombia; and in Argentina, the Unión de Trabajadores del Transporte Marítimo, Aéreo, Terrestre y Afines (UALA), the Asociación de Personal Aeronáutico (APA), the Asociación de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas (APLA) and the Union del Personal Superior y Profesional de Empresas Aerocomerciales (UPSA).

Tags: Argentina, Asociación Técnicos y Empleados de protección y Seguridad a la Aeronavegación, ATEPSA, cba, contract win, solidarity