CGT Central Labour Confederation leader Hugo Moyano, who was reelected today during CGT Congress at Club Ferro Carril Oeste, assured that “we will have to rethink our vote in 2013 if the Government does not give an answer to our claims.”
Moyano, whose rift with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s administration deepened in the last months addressed supporters in a rally during the CGT Congress, which he stressed “ook place despite that ministers and government officials tried their hardest to prevent us from being here.”
“Despite the fact we’ve been pressured and harassed this historic day took place all the same. Never before has a Government, either democratic or a dictatorship, has tried to meddle with union organizations. Each government official, each minister tried to the best they could to prevent this Congress from happening,” Moyano added.
«This issue of inflation is getting unsustainable,» Moyano told supporters after his unanimous election, demanding the government hike the minimum threshold for income tax as wages rise. «The workers can’t support this unjust tax any longer.»
“Why are you so afraid of the workers union organizations? You should not be afraid of us, you should respect us. You cannot ignore the power of workers, and our claims should not be ignored.”
The reelected CGT leader also assured that “the National Government refused to hand over the money to Buenos Aires province Governor Daniel Scioli for him to pay salaries and bonuses in time. All of us know that. The National Government pursues permanent confrontation instead of dialogue.”
CGT umbrella union members that support Moyano voted today beginning to gather from 11 am this morning.
High security was in place along the approaching streets to the stadium, in order to ensure non-voters did not gain access and cause any difficulties.
Among the organizations that were assisting in the special summit today which votes in Moyano to lead the fractured umbrella union for a further four years include: truckers (teamsters’ union), bank workers, motorbike delivery workers, municipal workers, employees from national universities, bakers, entertainment workers, plumbers, newspaper vendors and butchers.
The congress is going ahead despite Government’s reluctance, as last week the Labour Ministry Carlos Tomada contested the measure due to the current conflict taking place between the three factions of the umbrella union.
Today’s congress underlined the rupture within the umbrella union, considering the fact that Moyano’s opponents are to hold their own internal election in October putting forward UOM metal workers union head Antonio Caló to be president.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald