Win for women crew members at Argentine airline

19 March 2009

Women cabin crew at the recently nationalised Argentine flag carrier have won better maternity rights following union negotiations with the new management.

The ITF-affiliated Asociación Argentina de Aeronavegantes (AAA) lobbied for the maternity rights of mothers working for Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral with children under the age of two to be properly enforced. Under their collective bargaining agreement (CBA), they have the right to work only for short periods away from home, enabling them to be close to their young children. However, prior to the nationalisation of the companies last year, the airlines had failed to comply with this aspect of the CBA. Significant progress has also been made to improve the union’s current collective bargaining agreement; it won an extra benefit in the form of a “no standby” rule, which will enable mothers to rely on a more stable working pattern.

The national legal framework already stipulates 90 days’ leave when workers give birth and an unpaid optional six month period of leave after the end of the 90 days. Cabin crew members are already entitled to paid leave during pregnancy under the CBA.

Mothers who have recently given birth but who are unable to afford to take unpaid leave, for example, if they are single, are set to benefit the most.

Ricardo Frecia, AAA General Secretary, commented: “This new move has been welcomed by mothers who need to take care of their children. It also means that those who have to work can now work for short periods away knowing that they will not have to be on standby; while mothers who previously had to take unpaid leave can now carry on working knowing that they won’t be away from home for long periods.”

Alison McGarry, ITF Women’s Officer, added: “I congratulate the AAA for ensuring that the rights of working transport women are properly implemented. It shows how trade union membership benefits working women and provides a positive example for other unions involved in similar negotiations to use.”

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