Cargo flights suspended as airline workers in Brazil, Argentina go on strike

Aviation workers in Brazil and Argentina have walked off the job today at LATAM Airlines Group, arguing for improved work conditions.    Aviation workers in Brazil and Argentina have walked off the job today at LATAM Airlines Group, arguing for improved work conditions, according to the Civil Aviation Federation of Brazil (FENTAC).
   FENTAC said the airline “fired union leaders in Peru and Ecuador without cause, and has made cost-cutting changes in the operations, that workers believe could potentially affect flight safety standards.”
   “Striking is the last measure we take to express to the company the need to recognize and value our professional skills and qualifications. We are responsible for flight safety standards and the success of the aviation sector in the region,” said Sergio Dias, president of FENTAC, in a statement.
   Flight delays and cancellations are expected at airports in Buenos Aires and the Brazilian airports of Guarulhos y Congonhas (São Paulo), Santos Dumont y Galeão (Rio de Janeiro), Brasília, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and Campinas.
   The strikes will affect both cargo and passenger flights throughout South America.
   “Argentina is a central connecting point in the region particularly for passenger and cargo flights to and from Brazil. The first half of February is a critical time for flower exports, particularly from Ecuador and Colombia to North America and Europe,” said FENTAC. “Delays in delivery affect the quality of floral exports.”
   The union has started a legal mediation with Argentina’s Labor Office, which will reach its final day on Feb. 4. FENTAC warned, however, that strikes will likely continue after Feb. 4, continuing the mass flight cancellations and delays in the region.