- Title: Airport strike leaves hundreds stranded, flights cancelled in Bolivia
- Date: 21st October 2020
- Summary: EL ALTO, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 21, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EL ALTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PASSENGERS AT EL ALTO AIRPORT DEPARTURES TERMINAL VARIOUS OF BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WAITING IN FRONT OF AIRLINE COUNTER PASSENGERS CARRYING THEIR LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER, TEODORA COPULO, SAYING: "Well, I understand, really I understand the right of people to strike for their rights. It is something very important for me, but we have rights as well because I don't know if I have the money to stay here, to pay for the hotel or my medication or my food. So, I should have known that you people, your strike. I defend you, I respect your right, but I should have known that you were going to be on strike." PASSENGERS IN LINE IN FRONT OF AIRLINE COUNTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PASSENGER, BLANCA UGALDE, SAYING: "A family member died, I was going to his funeral and there are no flights. They should tell us in advance that they were going to go on this strike and to not do it so abruptly, it causes a lot of damage. (The strike) is because they haven't been paid (employees at airport) salary for two [sic] months. PASSENGERS AT AIRPORT DEPARTURES TERMINAL VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WAITING IN FRONT OF AIRLINE COUNTER SIGN THAT READS (Spanish) "TOGETHER WE GO FURTHER" VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS CARRYING THEIR LUGGAGE
- Embargoed: 4th November 2020 18:09
- Keywords: Bolivia El Alto air workers airports flights passengers stranded strike
- Location: EL ALTO, BOLIVIA
- City: EL ALTO, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001D12OM6F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A strike from air traffic controllers over wage claims hamstrung Bolivia's airports and left hundreds of passengers stranded on Wednesday (October 21), not long after the resumption of flights in the Andean country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airport unions are protesting the alleged non-payment of three months of wages. Authorities claim the payment is underway.
Airport authorities reported more than 60 domestic and international flights scheduled for Wednesday were cancelled.
Long lines of travelers were seen at Bolivia's main airports as passengers waited for their flights to be rescheduled.
(Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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