Negotiations to stop a walkout by the public transport sector have failed leading unions to confirm a strike for March 31.
Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández and Labour Minister Carlos Tomada met today with union leaders at the government house in a move to settle a dispute mainly sparked by the sector’s income tax demands.
“We have had a very friendly meeting but unfortunately there was no progress made over the issues that we have been demanding for since last year,” head of the dredging workers union Juan Carlos Schmid said ratifying what he called a “the direct action measure for the end of the month.”
Schmid also explained union representatives will be holding a “plenary” meeting on Wednesday to address the state of negotiations with the government.
Meanwhile, Omar Maturano, in charge of the La Fraternidad union representing train drivers, supported also the decision to confirm the March 31 protest action.
“We had no agreement in the demand for an emergency increase for the retired, the income tax and the health insurance issues,” Maturano told reporters earlier today.
“It was a very nice meeting but (there was) no solution. Aníbal Fernández said it depended on the President (Cristina Fernández de Kirchner).”
Source: Buenos Aires Herald