Argentina's ATE Union Announces 27-Airport Strike on 6 November, Two Days Before Pope Leo XIV's Arrival
Why It MattersLabour action timed to a papal visit and aimed at the national aviation authority's funding puts Argentina's airport reliability under pressure, including at the two Buenos Aires airports where business traffic concentrates.
Argentina's state workers' union Asociación Trabajadores del Estado (ATE) has announced a new protest action at 27 airports across the country on Friday, 6 November, two days before Pope Leo XIV is due to arrive in Argentina. The union is protesting against the government of Javier Milei over alleged breaches of airport security. The action could affect operations and cause flight delays and cancellations, including at Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports. During the stoppage only health, humanitarian, organ-transport and official flights will be guaranteed. ATE will also stage what it calls a "Japanese-style strike" at Ezeiza International Airport and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, working under a scheme of total control and inspection of aircraft, ramp equipment, works, runways, taxiways and any activity affecting operational safety.
ATE national secretary general Rodolfo Aguiar said the defunding of the air commercial system has reached the point of endangering workers, crews and passengers, and that each suspended or delayed flight would be the government's responsibility. He said the notice was being given with the advance required by law, that the dispute is not with passengers, and that in several provinces airports are already not operating. Aguiar also said the destination of 90% of the revenue from the air passenger tax is unknown.
In a complaint sent to the Secretariat of Labour, led by Julio Cordero, ATE alleged systematic violations of the obligation to provide proper hygiene, technical safety and working conditions at national and international airports. The document states that the air passenger tax is estimated to raise 220,000 million pesos a year, of which less than 10% returns to strengthen the operations of the aviation authority or to pay its staff, which the union says contradicts recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the US Federal Aviation Administration. In early September the union had already carried out a "48 hours of protests" plan at more than 20 airports over unpaid wages for workers of the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC).
