LAN strike lifted after 24 hours of delays

The airline strike has been lifted, and all LAN flight operations have been resumed in Ezeiza and Jorge Newberry airports. Following five hours of negotiations, labour minister Carlos Tomada finally settled the issues with LAN staff in an emergency meeting.

After an entire day of strikes and holdups, a strenuous 24 hours, LAN president and the union of air hostesses who went on strike yesterday, finally lifted the flight bans. This was following a meeting with the Ministry of Labour which began at 11PM yesterday, and ended at 4AM today. The situation had become uncomfortable for customers, causing conflict as over 20 flights were delayed and 6,000 passengers were affected.

Union action began yesterday at 4.30AM, cancelling all main domestic and international flights going out of Ezeiza and Jorge Newbery airports. Today, from 5.50AM, flights were re-authorized, however many have been re-scheduled for Saturday, causing a large number of passengers to be held back before Christmas.

Chaos had been caused yesterday, airline employees blocked off the check-in desks and paraded about the airport with signs to support their cause, in a plea for better treatment and better wages. Tensions rose and passengers were angered by delays, which affected so many.

“We support and understand our customers who have been affected, especially now, during the festive season. However our actions had to be put into place to get to the agreement we reached today, “said Paula Marconi, secretary of the ATCPEA cabin crew association.

The LAN workers had accused the company of violating work conditions with regard to maximum work hours for flights, stating that they did not convene to basic labour conditions. They wanted action to follow work conditions stated by LAN, not those of the Cabin Crew Association.

The settlement was made and air hostesses and cabin crew are to work 60 hours and those who work on international flights, 65 hours. Wages have also been given a 30% increase, but these norms had been put into place as of the end of November.

For those travelling today at Ezeiza or Jorge Newberry city airport, where things are running again, expect some delays still as most flights will not be back to normal for another week.