Sarmiento train commuters have experienced at least surprise today when rail workers launched an unexpected strike that lasted for four hours. “Extreme and irrational,” the government considered the action plan that started at 4.30 am today affecting thousands.
The service returned to normal at 8.30 this morning. According to union leaders, workers protesting over salary issues decided to lift the strike sooner than expected “to not continue affecting” people who still were forced to take alternative transportation to get to work.
Interior and Transport Minister Florencio Randazzo expressed his “outrage” over the conflict and accused rail workers of “annoying thousands and thousands of passengers.” “It has been a wild, irrational and really incomprehensible walkout,” Randazzo told reporters and went on to connect the sudden strike with the announcement made yesterday by the government involving tightening controls on train drivers.
On Wednesday, the minister held a press conference at the government house where he exhibited security camera videos showing how engine drivers fall asleep, talk on their cell phones or read books while they are on duty increasing accident risk.
“These irresponsible go sleeping on trains and if there is an accident they allege brakes fail to work,” Randazzo told reporters from a radio station.
“Do you think we are stupid? We showed yesterday videos that send shivers to our spine and we wake up with a sudden strike called by a group of 150 people who work at the Sarmiento and make 20,000 pesos every month?,” he added.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald