Luis Ceriotto
07/02/2020 - 23:18
- Clarín.com
- Economy
- Economy
A new gap has just opened within Aerolineas Argentinas with at least one of the aeronautical unions, the powerful Association of Aeronautical Technical Personnel ( APTA ). The state airline had announced, this afternoon, that it will pay June salaries in at least two installments , for not having sufficient funds . And the union headed by Ricardo Cirielli said that he will complain to the Ministry of Labor.
Through an internal statement, the management of the company headed by Pablo Ceriani announced that next Monday a first payment of up to 35,000 pesos will be paid and that "negotiations" are being made with the Government to obtain the funds to pay the balance of June "as soon as possible" .
The owner of the airlines, Pablo Ceriani, met before the pandemic with President Alberto Fernández.
Although it is not a salary reduction, but a deferral of the payment of 100% of wages , APTA rejected the method decided by the company, as well as the lack of prior consultation with the unions.
"APTA will immediately request a virtual meeting with the officials of the AR Group and will carry out the pertinent claim actions before the Ministry of Labor , to preserve the rights and income of its members," the union headed by Cirielli anticipated tonight, to through a statement.
Even with difficulties, Airlines continues to pay 100% of wages . This is not the case of its competitors: the two "low cost" Flybondi and JetSmart agreed with their unions a salary reduction of between 12% and 50% since April . And LATAM Argentina tried to unilaterally apply a 50% reduction of all wages , for three months. That failed attempt (the Ministry of Labor forced her to back down with her decision) was, in turn, the last attempt by the Argentine subsidiary of LATAM to maintain its activity in the country, before requesting the opening of a preventive crisis procedure. to lay off its 1,715 employees .
In the case of Airlines, 4,000 of its 12,000 employees have been suspended from the beginning of June until the end of this month. But after a negotiation with the six aeronautical unions, the company agreed to pay the suspended the equivalent of 100% of their pocket salary , only as a "non-remunerative sum", to use the procedure that allows them to avoid - during the term of the suspension - the payment of employer charges, which are almost equivalent to an extra pocket salary.
Airlines, like the other airlines, have had no income since the end of March : they stopped billing when regular passenger flights were suspended. Only, unlike its competitors, it receives the necessary funds from the Treasury to cover all of its expenses, not just salaries . According to what the head of the company, Pablo Ceriani, had said at the beginning of the year, even before the pandemic they estimated that subsidies for the equivalent of 900 million dollars would be necessary .
APTA head Ricardo Cirielli.
But from APTA they reproach Ceriani for not having consulted them. "APTA is perfectly aware of the serious economic situation in Argentina, such as that of the national and global aviation industry. But (...) its union representatives should have been summoned before making the decision , to assess the situation and provide overcoming ideas. Yes We are a team, teamwork must be ensured, "claimed the union. Even with an irony: "Of course, it is to be expected that the payment method includes all the personnel of the AR Group, including its president , directors and unconventional staff members."
