ATE Postpones Airport Strike Pending Meeting with Labor Ministry

The State Workers Association (ATE) has postponed a planned strike at 27 airports across Argentina that was scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 3. The decision was announced shortly before the first wave of protests was set to start at 9:00. Airport operations, including those at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, remained normal following the announcement. The suspension covers measures planned for Thursday and Friday, with some reports indicating the strike is postponed until Monday.

The postponement follows a dispute over the legality of the strike. The Ministry of Labor notified the union that the measure was illegal because it allegedly failed to guarantee the 75 percent essential service requirement. ATE officials maintain that their plan to affect only 25 percent of the workday complied with the law. The union has requested an urgent hearing with the Ministry of Labor to define the specific sections of essentiality required by the government.

While the strike is paused, the underlying conflict remains open. ATE is demanding improvements to working conditions and the fulfillment of salary agreements that have allegedly been ignored since January. Some workers also protested the dismissal of employees from a third party company, alleging that the firm has received preferential treatment under the administration of Javier Milei. ATE has warned that it will reactivate the full strike measures if the Ministry of Labor does not convene the requested hearing.