“We will file a complaint with the ILO [International Labour Organization] regarding the civil requisition,” stated Edmilson Aguiar, president of SNPAC, during a press conference in Praia.
The decision follows the government’s announcement to hold pilots accountable who allegedly defied the civil requisition during a five-day strike at Cabo Verde Airlines (TACV), which concluded on Monday.
“The information provided by the Government is false. There was no disobedience by those requisitioned,” said the union leader, arguing that the company’s current manual requires a 48-hour notice for schedule changes to allow for mandatory rest periods and to adhere to operational safety principles.
Moreover, he explained that the pilots subject to the civil requisition were off duty, having already completed their legal service period, and the summons did not comply with the legal conditions.
The union representative also claimed that the civil requisition caused “stress, emotional fatigue, and some clinically proven cases,” adding that the relevant medical reports are legally valid under Cape Verdean labor laws.
“Decisions like the civil requisition, made without safeguarding operational safety issues, are extremely serious,” declared Edmilson Aguiar, stating that the current TACV board “does not have the conditions to continue managing the company.”
TACV pilots began a five-day strike on Thursday for improved career conditions, enhanced operational safety, and better health protection, among other demands.
The following day, the Government issued a civil requisition for eight of the 30 pilots, to be enforced on Saturday, Sunday, and the strike’s final day, Monday, citing a lack of agreement with the National Civil Aviation Pilots Union (SNPAC) concerning minimum services and considerable losses for the airline in domestic, international, and charter flights.
