Throughout 2022 and even since August 2021, the application and integration process between Viva Air and Aviancawith the aim of eventually rescuing the low-cost from the crisis it has been going through.
However, the process has not been easy, following various inconveniences the integration has not been allowed to take place, such as the objection of the Civil Aeronautics and the disapproval of other airlines, where the truly affected have been the workers, who beg solutions to avoid losing your job if live air it will come to an end, as assured by Carlos Roncancio, adviser and representative of the unions and workers, who hopes an agreement will be reached soon.
What has been your role in the Avianca and Viva Air integration request?
My role as a labor lawyer and defender of human rights in labor matters has been to represent the workers who work for Viva Colombia, affiliated to union organizations such as the Colombian Association of Civil Aviators (Acdac), Colombian Association of Air Force Auxiliaries, Flight and other workers and associations of the air sector.
What has been the most important thing in the integration process?
Strengthening respect for labor rights, individual and collective. This means that the employment of the 1,200 workers that Viva currently has hired directly, and the more than 5,000 workers indirectly, is guaranteed with this integration. Contrary to that if Viva Colombia is liquidated, since they would lose their jobs and their families would be affected, because the salary is the mainstay of the entire nucleus.
How many people would be affected?
We would be talking regarding more than 20,000 people who may be affected by a decision such as the one that may happen, the liquidation of Viva Colombia due to the economic crisis it is going through.
What do you expect with the integration?
That decent work is carried out, that is what the workers aspire to, mainly for the sustainability of jobs, the income for the subsistence of the workers. We have to apply to higher quality indices, not only of work, but also of education.
With the alliance that is being sought, we are looking for all these workers’ rights to be maintained as much as possible, which is why they have a tremendous interest in the final result of this alliance.
Why did the unions ask to be interested third parties in the process that is taking place?
Unions or worker representatives, from all unions, play a very important role, and that is to represent the rights of workers in this process. One of the constitutional purposes of union regulations is precisely the defense of workers’ labor rights, so the union organizations representing their affiliates and those who may become affiliates in the future, request to be part of this process to that these rights are guaranteed.
What consequences would non-integration bring to you?
The liquidation of the company would lead to very serious problems, not only labor but also social, because we are going to be in a situation in the country, where regionally, particularly in Antioquia, we are going to have many unemployed, the vast majority of workers are from there.
How can integration benefit them?
It can bring regarding a strengthening of unions that are thinking not only regarding present employment, but also regarding the future and that the company is sustained over time, being a source of income for many workers.
It strongly calls our attention that Avianca in its alliance has offered the labor guarantee to these workers, so we welcome this position of the company.
What has the Government told you regarding your request for labor guarantees?
We must rescue and greatly highlight the appreciation of the Minister of Labor and the Vice Minister of Labor Relations, in a letter that they sent to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aeronautics, in which they warn of the labor problem that can be presented in the event of a liquidation of Viva Colombia.
This Government, through the Ministry of Labor, has ensured that the labor rights of the workers in viva are safeguarded in this process.
Would they cover more than half of the market if they were to carry out the integration?
Several aspects have to be analysed. The first is that the distribution of air routes in Colombia is done through a legal procedure of a public auction, in which all competitors can participate.
The second thing is that the State through its institutions, in this case the Civil Aeronautics, authorizes the routes to those competitors that make the request, therefore, here in Colombia, any company can request this entity to fly to any destination. from the country.
It is very risky to talk regarding monopolistic behavior or a dominant position in the market. Today Avianca has a market share of approximately 45%, but it means that with this leadership, the company can manage to generate a series of benefits for the country, as a result of integration.
What do you expect to happen with integration in 2023?
Fundamentally, we want labor rights to be maintained, that the jobs that exist today at Viva Colombia be maintained, and that they grow. We want more and more workers to be involved in the direct contracting process with the company and we hope that this integration will allow us, as union organizations, to strengthen collective bargaining and union affiliation in these companies.
