Once again, it’s the transport workers that hold the key to a strike by opposition unions.
A nationwide 24-hour strike led by opposition transport workers unions took effect from 12:01am as union leaders confirmed yesterday morning that their planned industrial action would go ahead.
The lack of public transportation and early road blocks led by leftist parties today paralysed much of the City.
Roadblocks were staged this morning along Panamericana highway, Pueyrredón Bridge, Acceso Oeste highway, la Noria bridge, all key accesses which connect the Greater Buenos Aires with the city.
Protesters were marching from the Obelisk to the Labour Minister.
“The government is responsible for this failure for not listening to workers,” Moyano said, following his insistence last week that unions would reject “any agreement that does not start with a three,” referring to a central demand of the striking workers for wages to rise by at least 30 percent.
The government, however, continued to reject the grounds for the strike and ratified its position that protest action was a political move rather than one articulating legitimate economic grievances.
“It has more political characteristics than anything else,” said Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández speaking to reporters on Monday, as he stressed that dialogue was a better option for all parties.
Interior and Transport Minister Florencio Randazzo also described the strike as “political,” saying it is being planned “against a government that has has pursued public policies on transport like no one else.” Specifically, Randazzo said, “thousands railways have seen a process of transformation like never before,” he said.
Pro-government union leaders also joined administration officials in criticizing the walkout.
Hugo Yasky, leader of the pro-government CTA umbrella union, argued that many groups supporting the strike, which will affect buses, trains, the subway and airlines, were doing so out of self-interest as they had specific grievances that determined their position.
“This strike has the implicit support of sectors aligned to special economic interests such as the Argentine Rural Society (SRA) and other large economic groups,” he said.
Equally, the head of the anti-Kirchnerite CTA Pablo Micheli unveiled strong criticism of the national administration as the midnight start time for the strike approached.
“There are people who are accused of corruption and continue to walk the street,” he said.
In the days and hours leading up to the strike, however, Micheli also hinted at the divisions within the broad scope of opposition unions that banded together in favour of today’s widepread strike.
“I do not feel comfortable with Barrionuevo,” he said of fellow opposition union leader Barrionuevo, head of the restaurant workers’ union. “I’m not with that CGT. I go with my own identity.”
Source: Buenos Aires Herald