Avianca pilots on strike vote to decide if they end their strike

The pilots affiliated to the Colombian Association of Civil Aviators (Acdac), on strike since September 20, vote tonight if they raise the protest or extend it to 60 days provided by law.

Bogotá, Nov 9 (EFE) .- The pilots affiliated to the Colombian Association of Civil Aviators (Acdac), on strike since September 20, vote tonight if they raise the protest or if the they extend until the 60 days that the law foresees.

"We are union and force, Acdac pilots analyze different alternatives, we are still united, we remain united", said the association in Twitter.

Once the deliberation is over, the president of Acdac, Captain Jaime Hernández, will go to the headquarters of the Ombudsman's Office in Bogotá, where he will announce the determination.

If the strike is over, the next step is to discuss whether the pilots return to work in 48 or 72 hours.

Last September 20, 702 pilots, half of the staff of Avianca aviators, began the protest in demand for improvements in labor and wages that is now 51 days.

The Colombian government appointed lawyer Jaime yesterday Pinzón Quintero as third arbitrator to mediate in the labor dispute between Avianca and the Acdac.

The appointment was made after the "irrevocable resignation" of the lawyer Elsy del Pilar Cuello Calderón, who had been designated by mutual agreement by the arbitrators of Avianca and Acdac, explained the Ministry of Labor in a statement.