planes on the ground, accountants without workers and chaos in the main airports of the country has been the scenario with which cessation of activities of the airline Viva Air. While the passengers were stranded waiting for solutions, the company’s employees are also experiencing a drama.
In dialogue with EL TIEMPO, Cristian Martínez, who has worked as a cabin crew member for seven years and is a member of the Workers Union, expressed the anguish they have had for months due to the difficult financial situation of the company: “I didn’t give more time”.
“In these seven months we were waiting for the response from Aeronautics on the integration of Viva Air with Avianca. (…) The situation was getting worse, but we did not expect that they would suddenly leave everything on the ground,” he said.
We understand that you have scheduled flights, hotel reservations, but you should also know that there are 1,200 indirect people and 3,500 indirect people who are losing their jobs.
As revealed to this newspaper, since the morning of Monday, February 27, rumors of the possible suspension of operations were circulating; However, it was not until late at night that he received the notification: “About 9 pm, the company’s scheduling area contacted the crew members so that they did not go as planned (shifts) because the flights were going to be cancelled.”
Minutes later, Viva Air, through an internal communication for its workers, explained to them that the situation was unsustainableTherefore, operations had to be temporarily ceased.
Viva Air passengers at airports waiting for a solution to travel.
Jaiver Nieto Alvarez. TIME
(Also: Satena should operate in the defense of Viva Air users: Petro).
“We are 1,200 direct workers, including pilots, co-pilots, cabin crew, maintenance personnel and administrative personnel. And 3,500 who are indirect, such as ground personnel, who attend to the accountants We would all be affected by this decision,” he added.
Until this February 28, the company complied with the payment of their salaries, but as of this March 1 they do not know what will happen. Therefore, the Union filed a popular action before the Administrative Court of Cundinamarca so that the integration with Avianca is done quickly.
“What we are asking is that all jobs be guaranteed to continue the operation,” he said.
In addition, he asked Colombians to respect the officials who are still paying attention at airports, as they have been victims of attacks: “This is complicated for everyone. We understand that they have scheduled flights, hotel reservations, but they should also know that there are 1,200 direct people and 3,500 indirect people who are running out of work”.
(Keep reading: Viva Air workers ask the court for measures to protect their rights).
Jaiver Nieto Alvarez. TIME
The Union plans to continue with mobilizations and sit-ins until the authorities give them a solution: “The integration of Avianca is the only way we can continue operating.”
“We are unemployed,” concluded the cabin crew member.
The Court of Cundinamarca has already distributed the process to a magistrate, who has the request that a precautionary measure be urgently declared for the alleged violation of workers’ rights.
You can also read:
– These are the reasons that conclude Viva in an airline in crisis.
– Viva Air: so you can change flights to another airline; Petro is pronounced.
– Mabel Cartagena recorded video of fights between passengers due to the Viva Air crisis.
– Viva reappears and says that the suspension of flights is not to put pressure on the Government.
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