AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS FACES "LIGTNING STRIKE"

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000549 SIPDIS SIPDIS EB/TRA FOR JEFF HORWITZ EB/TRA/OTP FOR BIRD MATTINGLEY FAA FOR LEEANN HART CA/OCS/ACS/WHA FOR SHRILEY CRAWFORD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ELAB AR SUBJECT: AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS FACES "LIGTNING STRIKE" REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 513 ¶B. BUENOS AIRES 470 ¶1. Members of Argentina's Air Line Pilots Association (APLA) and the Association of Professional Aeronautic Technicians (APTA) initiated a 24-hour strike at noon on March 9. Air Force Chief of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Airport Commodore Mario Marelli stated that union representatives had informed him after a late-morning meeting of their intentions to begin a strike. Marelli did not give Econoff an estimate of the total number of flights or passengers that would be affected. He did say that nine flights scheduled for takeoff between 1 pm and 3 pm would be delayed. Marelli said he had not received any indications that Austral flights might be added to help limit the accumulation of otherwise stranded passengers. ¶2. APLA Secretary General Jorge Perez Tamayo blamed the strike on Aerolineas Argentinas' inability to make an acceptable offer to increase salaries for the airline's pilots and mechanics. APTA spokesman Juan Papalardo has reportedly said that the unions have exhausted all attempts to reach an agreement and that the time for negotiations has simply run out. Union members demonstrating at the Buenos Aires International Airport at Ezeiza have reportedly threatened to cut off access to the airport if a representative from Aerolineas does not come to the airport to offer a solution. Press accounts have reported APLA and APTA spokesmen as saying that the unions will continue to engage in "lightning strikes" until Aerolineas makes an acceptable offer on increased salaries. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶3. The GOA had promised to consider tariff increases when the previous strike ended on December 2 for a 90-day negotiating period. Aerolineas Argentinas had requested the tariff increases as a means of accommodating the unions' large salary increases (45 percent for pilots and 75 percent for mechanics). The tariff increases never materialized, and Aerolineas has maintained its earlier position that it cannot afford to meet the unions' demands. Tariff increases and/or higher pilots' and mechanics' salaries would add pressure to current inflation, a major concern for both the GOA and the public. Fortunately for international and domestic tourists, Argentina's major tourist season ended in late February. ¶4. To see more Buenos Aires report, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> GUTIERREZ