Argentina faces the prospect of a major transport strike at the end of month after a grouping of unions said they would stage a 24-hour stoppage on Wednesday, October 30.
The National Transport Roundtable, which groups together the CATT transport workers’ union and the UGATT transport workers’ association, said Tuesday that the strike would affect services including trains, trucks, ships and planes. It remains unclear if bus services would also be affected.
The decision as made Tuesday at a meeting attended by various union secretary generals including Pablo Moyano (Camineros/Teamsters); Juan Pablo Brey (Aviation); Omar Maturano (La Fraternidad); Mario Caligari (UTA); Juan Carlos Schmid (FeMPINRA); Pablo Biró (APLA-pilots) and Raúl Durdos (SOMU).
There was one notable absence: Roberto Fernández, the leader of a bus-drivers’ and trams’ union.
The announcement is the latest flashpoint between President Javier Milei’s government and transport workers.
Aviation unions have staged regular walkouts over the past month, challenging wage renegotiation offers and the administration’s attempts to privatise flagship state carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Moyano, speaking Tuesday, heavily criticised the Milei administration, while his colleague Maturano blamed the “permanent adjustment” and “tariff hikes” as cause.
A strike had initially been pencilled in for October 17, to coincide with Peronist loyalty day, but the labour leaders decided to reprogramme it for October 30.
“The important thing is some of us will go on strike, those who want to join are welcome to,” said Moyano.
– TIMES/NA
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