The Colombian government reached an agreement with air-traffic controllers, bringing an end to a dispute which has caused flight delays and cancellations across the country over the past three weeks, reported Colombia’s RCN Radio Monday.
The agreement followed five hours of talks between Labor Minister Rafael Pardo, Vice Minister of Labor Relations David Luna, Director of Civil Aeronautics Santiago Castro, and representatives of the air-traffic controllers.
Luna said, “The agreement provides for the incorporation of 35 new air traffic controllers to enter in to service for Aerocivil [Colombia’s civil aviation authority] in the shortest possible time.”
Despite the agreement, four flights were cancelled and a further three were delayed in Bogota Monday.
The agreement provided for greater financial compensation to those working in Colombia’s busier airports, differential payment on Sunday’s and holidays, standardized overtime payment and job guarantees for all controllers.
The government emphasized that the agreement does not represent an increase in the budget allowance for Aerocivil.