Largest Avianca pilots' union in Colombia begins strike

The largest pilots' union at Colombia's flagship airline Avianca said Wednesday it was beginning an indefinite strike over wages and benefits, after failed negotiations with the company. The Colombian Association of Civil Aviators (ACDAC), which represents more than 700 of the 1,300 Avianca pilots working in the country, began the strike at 4:00 local time after failing to reach a deal with the airline during talks mediated by the Labor Ministry. Negotiations will restart on Wednesday afternoon. The union had proposed salaries increase gradually over three to four years, ACDAC president Captain Jaime Hernandez said. "Unfortunately there wasn't agreement, much less a respectful counter-proposal from the company," Hernandez said. The strike can legally last up to 60 days, the pilots' statement added. Avianca said early Wednesday the pilots' economic demands are impossible to meet and that close to 22,000 passengers will be affected by the strike.<br/>