JetSMART Argentina and Union ASTJ Reach an Agreement, Strike Called Off
Following the signing of a deal with economic improvements for crews, the JetSMART Workers' Union (ASTJ) has suspended the industrial action.
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JetSMART's operations in Argentina will proceed normally this Friday, August 1. The JetSMART Workers' Union (ASTJ) has officially confirmed the suspension of the planned strike after reaching a partial agreement with the airline.
The decision follows the signing of a document that establishes direct economic benefits for the crews. Specifically, the agreement includes an extraordinary bonus proportional to the fixed salary. According to the union, this represents an effective increase of up to 10% for First Officers and between 10% and 17% for Cabin Crew. The latter group was considered one of the most lagging sectors on the company's salary scale.
This type of labor dispute is common in the Argentine aviation sector, amid a context of high inflation and currency devaluation that erodes the purchasing power of salaries compared to the airlines' operational costs, many of which are pegged to the US dollar.
ASTJ stated that this progress "allows for a reduction in part of the salary gap with neighboring subsidiaries, although there is still a way to go to achieve fully equitable conditions within the same business group." The comparison with the working conditions of JetSMART subsidiaries in countries such as Chile and Peru is a constant demand from Argentine unions, who seek to equalize their income within a regional framework.
Why was the JetSMART strike called off?
The industrial action planned for August 1 was suspended because the ASTJ union and the airline signed a partial agreement. This includes an extraordinary bonus that improves the income of pilots and cabin crew, temporarily deactivating the conflict and ensuring normal flight operations.
Diego Bitschin, the union's general secretary and a pilot for the airline, expressed that "the decision to suspend the measures was possible thanks to the support of our members and the will to find solutions without affecting the user." Bitschin also added that they "hope this gesture opens a more productive stage in the negotiations."
Although the strike is called off, the agreement is partial, and the underlying negotiation for a comprehensive salary adjustment continues. ASTJ will convene a members' assembly in the coming days to analyze the agreement's progress in detail and define the next steps in the dialogue with the company.
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