A day after air traffic controllers started a 3-day strike, the union has threatened to extend the work stoppage indefinitely.

Alberto Pimentel, head of the air traffic controllers union, warned the group would go on an indefinite nationwide strike if the government did not resume negotiations and address their demands for better wages and working conditions.

"We are likely to receive the call from the government or Córpac [the Peruvian Corporation of Airports] to establish negotiations and automatically lift the strike, but if at the end of these 72-hour’s this does not happen, we will extend these measures indefinitely," he said according to El Comercio.

The government declared air traffic to be in a state of emergency and hired outside staff to work the air traffic control tower.

According to a statement issued in El Peruano, the government decided to intervene because the union only had 3 operators working, and not the minimum requirement of 13 daytime operators and 16 nighttime operators.

“That means that the state can hire staff to ensure air traffic is safe," said Juan Carlos Crovetto, Corpac general manager.

Ramon Gamarra, head of civil aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, said 19 foreigners were hired to work in the control towers, 6 Ecuadorians and 13 Panamanians.

There were no major problems at Jorge Chavez International Airport during the first day of the strike, on Thursday.

Local medial reported 3 national flights canceled and 6 international flights delayed, which aviation authorities said was normal.

Leave a comment. It will be sent to a moderator for approval. We do not publish profanity or offensive remarks. We only publish comments in English.

* Username:
Security Code:	Please enter the text in the box above.
* Comment: