The Automotive Tram Union (UTA) and the Argentine Association of Automotive Transport Companies (AAETA) carry out a 24-hour strike, which affects the interior of the country.
The measure does not affect the City and province of Buenos Aires.
The protest specifically affects ten provinces where the lines do not circulate: Jujuy, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Chaco, Corrientes and Entre Rios, Río Negro, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, according to local media.
While in three others, Santa Fe, Neuquén and Chubut, there is circulation in some locations in the province;
and in the rest of the country the service is provided normally.
The protest is in demand of salary improvements, because the agreement reached in the last hours by the unions
does not meet the demands of the workers
in the midst of rising prices and high inflation.
In the statement calling for the strike, the unions reported that "after two months of hearing at the National Secretariat of Labor", there was "no salary offer", which is why this forceful measure was carried out.
“As we expressed it, the conflict will deepen due to the inaction of the actors in this process, whether businessmen and national, provincial and municipal authorities, upon expiration of the mandatory labor conciliation period,” they stated from the union led by Roberto Fernández.
Roberto Fernández, head of the UTA, Photo DYN.
In less than three months, since Javier Milei took office as president on December 10, Argentina has experienced various union conflicts, which motivated strikes in different sectors - such as education, health or transportation, after the various funding cuts that has been carried out by the national Executive.
The UTA requested "the same treatment as that given to AMBA workers", which consists of an initial salary of
$597,000 as a minimum for January and $737,000 as a minimum for February
, with a proportional increase in travel expenses and reimbursement of bills.
In addition, he demanded a non-remunerative allocation of $390,000 in two installments of $140,000 and $250,000 for February and March respectively.
For its part, the Argentine Federation of Passenger Automotive Transporters stated that "the current economic and social situation of each of the provinces does not allow new increases, in addition to pointing out that the provincial coffers are unable to face additional assistance for the sector. ".
From the business chamber they described the demand for greater increases by the UTA as "excessive", due to "that it is not consistent with any of the parameters of the specific activity of transport or the national economy, which is why it should be rejected." ", they said from FATAP.
The Ministry of Labor, meanwhile, set a new virtual hearing for Thursday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m., "in order to monitor the state of the situation and continue with the negotiations."
From the leadership of the UTA they clarified that in several provinces businessmen were open to paying the increase.
In the event that these salary increases materialize, the union pointed out, in those districts compliance with the strike will be minimal or they will not directly join the force measure.