In the framework of the revision of the collective labor agreement (CLA), the Trade Union Association of Aviator Pilots (ASPA) of Mexico and Aerovías de México SA de CV (Aeromexico), agreed to an extension of 48 hours to continue the negotiations surrounding the Contract B under which some pilots are hired.

The postponing of the term of the negotiations was requested by the mediators of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS), in the absence of progress between the parties.

The decision was taken after the General Assembly of ASPA on September 30, 2018, rejected the offer of Aeromexico to update the contractual and salary conditions of the CLA for the period of 2018-2020.

The “core point”, according to the union, is the refusal of Aeromexico to include in the revision an update on the salary and general working conditions for the pilots of the so-called “B” contract.

“The unconformity, anger and frustration of the pilots in contract B is real and given the refusal of the company to grant adjustments to that difference, it resulted in the Assembly rejecting in its entirety the terms of the negotiation,” said ASPA de Mexico in a statement.

The “Contract B” was agreed between the union and the company in 2010, in the midst of a global crisis scenario that seriously affected the airline industry. Until now, the pilots employed with this contract have 40% less salary and benefits, in comparison with what the pilots of the so-called "A" contract perceive.

The last offer made to the pilots included a salary increase of 5.15%, but no modification to contract B.

The airline anticipates that it is not in a position to offer superior conditions “due to the adverse conditions that the sector is going through, as a result of excess capacity of seats in the market, the rise of the jet fuel price and the fall of the peso against the dollar.”

In the case that the 1,093 pilots who work for Aeromexico do go on strike, ASPA of Mexico estimated that the airline would lose $7 million a day with 32,000 passengers affected per day.