Argentine President Javier Milei has classified the aviation sector as an “essential service” and ordered carriers to maintain at least 50% of service in case of a strike or other work stoppage.
Milei: Argentinan Carriers Must Maintain Minimum Service During Strike
Since assuming office, Milei has been in confrontation with flagship Aerolineas Argentinas carrier and the unions representing its employees. Parliament blocked his attempts to private the beleaguered carrier, but he has continued his austerity campaign in an effort to curb inflation, which currently stands at 237% per year.
Federico Sturzenegger, Minister for Deregulation and State Transformation outlined the new policy:
- unions must give a five-day notice ahead of a strike
- a commission will decide which flights will be impacted
- if the commission (which includes airline, union, and government officials) cannot decide on which routes will operate, the Ministry of Labor will
- at least 50% of flights must continue to operate
Pablo Biro, head of the Airline Pilots’ Association, called Milei’s decree “illegitimate and illegal” and said the only valid justification for curbing a strike would be a threat to health or human life.
Workers at Aerolineas Argentinas are seeking a 30-35% raise to keep up with the soaring cost of living. Thus far, the airline has only offered a 14% raise. Meanwhile, the carrier continues to lose money and has also faced funding cutbacks from the government.
Argentina’s Parliament could overrule this executive decree.
CONCLUSION
These numbers are staggering. I won’t comment further beyond saying that whether or not Milei’s austerity measures ever produce a Thatcher-like effect over time, I truly feel for the airline workers there. Trying to survive on wages that low with inflation that high seems…impossible. However it happens, I hope for a future day of prosperity in beautiful Argentina.
image: @OPRArgentina / X
