Workers tied to Chile’s civil aviation authority announced a 48 hour strike for Thursday and Friday this week, potentially causing airport chaos as the country gears up for the Christmas holidays. In September, a 24 hour strike stranded thousands of passengers and led to delays at airports, after a majority of workers affiliated with the DGAC civil aviation authority went on strike to demand improved benefits and working conditions.
After two months of negotiations, DGAC workers, which includes air traffic controllers, said they had rejected the government’s proposal for a state subsidy to improve their pensions. The DGAC said dialogue with workers was ongoing, but that services would be disrupted if the strike goes ahead. Chile’s flag carrier LAN, which suffered dozens of cancelled flights during the September work stoppage, said it was awaiting more information from the government to decide on measures it could take to mitigate the impact of the strike.