ITF urges Chile president to act to avoid civil aviation industrial action

If the action goes ahead, it will be right across the country, including Easter Island and Antarctica, thus becoming the first ever industrial action to take place in that continent.

For eight years the ITF-affiliated Asociación Nacional de Funcionarios de la Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (ANFDGAC) has been negotiating through a tripartite task force over social provisions for workers represented by ANFDGAC-affiliate the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. The task force - which involved the ministry of national defence and the general directorate of civil aviation - wound up on 2 July, despite there being no concrete results.

In his letter to president Michelle Bachelet Jeria, ITF general secretary Steve Cotton said the union believed it had acted in good faith and with patience throughout the talks and had sought "direct, honest dialogue and mutual respect to solve the issues".

He wrote: “After these considerations, and in the face of the refusal to abide by article 21 of law 16.752, that protects them, and to respect the agreements that have been pursued, including those achieved in 2008-2009 and 2014-2015, the workers see themselves obligated to exercise their right as defined by the principles of conventions 87 and 98 of the International Labour Organisation, ratified by the Republic of Chile.

“ANFDGAC, respectful of the democratic decision of its affiliates and after being affected by these provisional conditions for many years, is bound to exercise its rights and convoke industrial action on 15 September. It strongly regrets this and requests that, considering the democracy and the constitutional rule of law that prevails in Chile, the workers are able to undertake their union activities in peace, according to national legislation and international agreements ratified by Chile. It is important to mention that safety is their main commitment, which is corroborated by the high level of security in Chile's air space.”