The most militant unionist airline, about to become director of the company

A powerful guild movement is getting ready in Aerolineas Argentinas. The aerospace guilds have taken an unprecedented decision: to place the most combative trade unionist in the sector in the Aerolineas Argentinas directory.

Pablo Biró, leader of the powerful Airplane Pilots Association (APLA), already has all the structured legal scaffolds to offer as a director of the company representing the Participating Ownership Program (PPP), a project conceived at over the years. 90, when the company was privatized. Actions were given to employees who wanted to take them and then worked in the company. This will be the "Worker Director" because guilds call the new job of the pilot.

The story of the director by the workers began in 1994. When the sale of the airline, then its flag, was decided, the possibility was established that employees wishing to subscribe to 10% of the shares of the company. The requirement was that they be used at that time. The regulation provided that the company, which would change from a state-owned corporation to a private commercial corporation, would be retained in that director's office, provided that such participation exceeds 5% of the total.

Years pbaded and capital contributions too, especially when it was decided to recognize that grants were no longer loans and debts, but a capital injection. So much so that at present, this share represents less than 0.1% of the shares. However, the state has always maintained this director.

Last year, some things changed. The company approved new standards of compliance and transparency and decided that directors could not appoint family members to the company. In September, an internal study by the airline revealed that a family member of the director of the PPP of the time, Rodolfo Casali, had been appointed to the company.

In November, Casali resigned because he preferred to keep his son's job. Since then, there are no longer in the directory of workers' representatives of the nineties.

The empty chair and the unit that now groups the aerospace guilds have helped strengthen the power of society and take advantage of the situation. Rubén Fernández, Secretary General of the Union of Senior Executives and Professionals of Aerocomerciales Companies (Upsa) in a video that the unions published on You Tube, according to which Casali was "a little under pressure and threatened to lose the source" of his son who was in the business. "He spoke, in addition to the qualities of Biró, and stated that" he had a guild vocation and that no one would dare to talk about it ".

For the first time, the guilds met and decided, by consensus, that it was the pilot who occupied the coveted seat.

The collective agreement does not only concern the new director. The PPP actions establish that the representative is, in fact, the voice of these workers at the decision table. Below him, a seven-member executive committee entrusts him with the mandate of each position he holds. Two other trade unionists joined this college: Fernández and Edgardo Llanos, Secretary General of APA. The big missing is Ricardo Cirielli, an Aeronautical Technician (APTA), who left the list angry with one of his colleagues.

There is a peculiarity. Biró no longer participates in the PPP since joining the airline following this agreement. But to be a representative in the decision-making body, there is no need to be a shareholder. Yes, it is a requirement for members of the executive committee.

The list of new officers has already been presented to Banco Nación, the trustee of these shares. It will be the entity that will ask the company to hold a meeting to formalize the constitution.

Society could do certain things, as legal as the union's decision to be represented by the most militant trade unionist of all the unions. For example, he could exercise the clause stipulating that only this seat will be maintained as long as the shares exceed 5%. But of course, the conflict will be around the corner and in full election year. Once again, the government is willing to spend more money this year on financing the company (we are talking about $ 300 million again in 2019) in exchange for fewer conflicts.

The other is to convene this shareholders' meeting, which coincides with the approval of the report and the balance sheet, and to proceed with the appointment. This call will be made in May.

Guilds do not hide the intention to justify the measure. In the same video, Llanos said: "This is important because as workers and shareholders we have the right to receive the information that we are denied as workers and union leaders, it is important that a person on-site collects information so they can shout when they may be making decisions that we believe could hurt society, this government, as the majority shareholder, has not defended the company's badets as he should have done it. "

What could Biró do at this place? In principle, the small percentage lower than 0.1% will prevent you from stopping any decision. In accordance with regulations, the commission must deal with all matters relating to the fleet, fuel and any contract over $ 5 million. Basically, the big business policy.

The pilot, as director of a company, is criminally and civilly responsible for what happens in this directory. Therefore, you can request all the information you want and the company must provide it. I could only ask for confidentiality. For example, you can request records of the profitability of each of the routes, the salaries of those who want it, and all the records of revenues and costs. This will be a new challenge for pay negotiators who, without the most militant unionist at the table, validated last year an increase of 6 points over inflation. Of course, for that, they asked for a bigger check from the state.