Two separate protests today have brought disruption to commuters in Buenos Aires.

The first, organised by staff of Emprendimientos Ferroviarios SA (EmFer), cuts off the road at Avenida Rivadavia and Reconquista, as well as at Avenida General Paz and Constituyentes.

EmFer, which belongs to the Cirigliano Group, is protesting the loss of the company’s service contracts on the Sarmiento and Mitre lines following the February train accident in Once in which 51 people died. The workers are demonstrating to defend the stability of their jobs.

The second protest is led by veterans of the Malvinas/Falklands War, which came to an end 30 years ago today. The veterans have also mobilised at Avenida Rivadavia, from Plaza Miserere to Congreso.

A final group has blocked off several lanes of Avenida Maipu, on the side of Vicente Lopez at the Saavedra Bridge.

The Argentine Workers Union (CTA) has began a day of protests, blocking roads with protests across the capital, with strikes also taking place in other major cities.

The protesters, led by Pablo Micheli, are demanding a higher minimum wage, better working conditions and more support for the retired.

The press release issued by the union clearly states what they are trying to achieve: “5000 pesos minimum salary, equal rights, against the application of taxes on salary profits, for an 82% motive for retirees and pensioners, for the unification of limitless family allocation, and to say no to the antiterrorist law.”

The Buenos Aires secretary general, Carlos Chile, explained to Radio Mitre earlier today that the strike has long been in the pipeline. “We voted for this strike in February and we have been constructing and debating it far and wide across the country in more than 500 assemblies,” he said. “We are gathering under the slogan: ‘We’re striking because it’s not enough’.”

“We are in a situation where the worker has been taken as the adjustable variant in a moment of crisis while profit rates fall,” he continued.

The road blocks are concentrated in various locations across Buenos Aires including: General Paz and Constituyentes; Puente Saavedra; Puente Pueyrredon; Carlos Pelligrini and Corrientes; Paseo Colón and Avenida Belgrano; Avenida de Mayo and Perón; Entre Ríos and Pavón and Cordoba 700 and are set to continue until around 1pm. At 2pm, the union members intend to gather on 9 de Julio, then to march to Plaza de Mayo.

The union strikes have the support of the General Confederation of Labour who announced similar protests yesterday. “We agree with the CTA protest, these are issues that are also in the CGT’s agenda,” Julio Piumato, the CGT director, said at a meeting of supporters.

In addition to these roadblocks, metal workers brought General Paz to a standstill this morning with their own protests.