The flights carried out by TACV Cabo Verde Airlines and other companies will be affected throughout the day today, August 22, as a result of a strike by check-in and baggage personnel at Sal's Amílcar Cabral International Airport.

The strike began at 8:00 am this morning and will last for twenty-four hours, affecting TACV's operational services on Sal, according to a communiqué from the airline. Domestic and international flights departing from other islands will also, however, be affected by the strike, which comes at one of Cape Verde's two busiest airports.

According to a note from the Transportation, Communication and Public Administration Workers' Union, SINTCAP, in the name of the handling personnel on Sal, the 24-hour strike was called by the workers in response to a "unilateral alteration from TACV's directorship in the six-hour consecutive work shift and the 42-hour work week." The norms that were altered had been in place since 1989 as a result of an accord between TACV and workers.

"After various actions aimed at encouraging the company to reconsider its position, including a petition, a manifestation and a work meeting, SINTCAP decided to schedule a 24-hour strike," reads the union's communiqué.

TACV, for its part, affirms that the strike is the result of the workers' and their union's failure to accept "the eight-hour work shift, which was legally approved by the Labor Department."

Meanwhile, Airport and Air Security company ASA, which manages the nation's airports, and TACV are working to minimize the effects of the strike.

The president of ASA's administrative council, Mário Paixão, affirmed that ASA would "provide its total support to TACV's administration in order for the company to fulfill its obligations." "TACV is the only handling operator on Sal and carries out the service for all of the airlines" operating there.

Paixão said that traffic at Amílcar Cabral International Airport today was expected to be intense, with approximately six international flights going to and coming from Europe in addition to domestic departures and arrivals. "We've got two flights from Lisbon, one from Germany and Italy, plus charter flights, in addition to the domestic links. We have obligations with the airlines and their passengers, and we're going to do everything possible to minimize the effects of the strike," guaranteed Paixão.

The international flights departing from Praia, which between now and August 29 will be making a stopover on Sal for refueling, will not be affected by the strike, affirmed Paixão. "It's just a refueling operation which is carried out with the passengers on board."