Mexican air traffic controllers plan to protest in Mexico City on December 3 over the Finance Ministry's refusal to adjust their salaries. Union leader José Covarrubias called for as many workers as possible to join the march demanding improvements. The event highlights ongoing issues in the country's aviation sector.
The National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (Sinacta) has announced a march for Wednesday, December 3, in Mexico City. The protest stems from the Finance Ministry's inaction on requests to restore salary and benefit purchasing power, which have declined in recent years. It also seeks to address an urgent shortage of 500 controller positions.
José Covarrubias, the union's general secretary, released a video confirming the plan. “Faced with the unfounded outright refusal by the Finance Ministry to our request to recover the purchasing power of salaries and benefits, and to cover the urgent need for 500 positions, we confirm the decision to gather the largest number of controllers in Mexico City to make our demands and their full justification heard,” Covarrubias stated.
Over the past seven years, controllers have dealt with salary payment irregularities, outdated benefits, and constant delays in compensation. Strikes are illegal and considered a crime, so the group has been working under protest for the last year.
Mexico's air traffic control system suffers from inefficiencies: outdated critical infrastructure, a personnel deficit, and rising flight operations, all threatening safety. Recently, the Services to Air Navigation in Mexican Airspace (Seneam) ran out of funds for payroll, requesting a 259 million peso budget extension to cover wages for week 21.