Brazil - Update on Possible GOL and TAM Strike Jan 2011

This thread did not get relocated to the Brazil forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-north-south-america-frequent-flyer-programs/1162767-gol-tam-possibly-strike-dec-23-a.html

However, with the new Brazil forum, I wanted to post an update on this situation here. (Perhaps the mods can move and merge?)

Saw this report about the possibility of a strike. Looks like the two sides have moved closer, perhaps they will reach agreement before the strike date.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-06/brazil-minister-backs-air-workers-demand-for-10-raise-as-strike-looms.html

Brazilian Labor Minister Carlos Lupi said he backs airline workers’ demand for a 10 percent wage increase as carriers Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA and Tam SA make “a lot of money” from increased traffic by the nation’s growing middle class....

...Brazilian airline workers may declare a strike as early as Jan. 12 if companies don’t increase their offer of an 8.2 percent pay rise, Marcelo Schmidt, General Secretary of the National Union of Airline Workers, said Jan. 4.

I return Jan 15, so I hope they agree so my brother-in-law doesn't have to drive from VIX to GIG to pick me up! :D

This thread did not get relocated to the Brazil forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-north-south-america-frequent-flyer-programs/1162767-gol-tam-possibly-strike-dec-23-a.html

However, with the new Brazil forum, I wanted to post an update on this situation here. (Perhaps the mods can move and merge?)

Saw this report about the possibility of a strike. Looks like the two sides have moved closer, perhaps they will reach agreement before the strike date.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-06/brazil-minister-backs-air-workers-demand-for-10-raise-as-strike-looms.html

Brazilian Labor Minister Carlos Lupi said he backs airline workers’ demand for a 10 percent wage increase as carriers Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA and Tam SA make “a lot of money” from increased traffic by the nation’s growing middle class....

...Brazilian airline workers may declare a strike as early as Jan. 12 if companies don’t increase their offer of an 8.2 percent pay rise, Marcelo Schmidt, General Secretary of the National Union of Airline Workers, said Jan. 4.

I return Jan 15, so I hope they agree so my brother-in-law doesn't have to drive from VIX to GIG to pick me up! :D

Threat of a strike hasn't been in the news much lately. I thought it was airport workers that were threaning a strike and, regardless of that, all airlines would be affected. Obviously TAM and Gol dominate the market. Brazil wants more revenues form the airlines since it has a desperate need to upgrade and expand many airports in time for the 2014 World Cup. Based on what I've seen so far (we're in Fortaleza), there isn't a chance that this will be accomplished in time. Fortaleza will be lucky if two major stadiums being renovated are ready. But, vamos ver (we will see).

I haven't seen anything in the news either, so I am hoping they got things settled as I am arriving in Brazil tomorrow morning!