The Camioneros at a CGT protest (Photo: Patricio Murphy)

The protest caused major transport delays this morning in the Congreso neighbourhood, especially during the peak hour. Another 15 to 20 trucks are expected to arrive later today to reinforce the protest and cause even more inconvenience.

“They should feed the fired workers who cannot send their children to school,” stressed the deputy secretary of Sichoca Pablo Moyano, referring to the main points of their claims. For Moyano, a three-month conflict around industrial laundries is the “fault” of Labour Minister Carlos Tomada.

However, on Thursday the Labour Ministry demanded the laundry companies “pay immediately” the wages owed. The national deputy at Labour Ministry, Adrian Caneto urged both sides to maintain “the best predisposition and openness to discuss topics that divide them and at the same time contribute in a way that would bring social peace and improve labour relations.”

Meanwhile the Urban Transport Workers Union (UTA) is carrying on with its own nationwide strike, paralysing long-distance bus travel around the country. The union’s general secretary, Roberto Fernández, said that they are not planning to end the strike until the government and the business chamber provide some solutions to the problems raised. Fernández added: “We asked for a wage increase and then we have found out that they want to fire people and change our working hours.”

The strike could disrupt this weekend’s matches in the Argentine football league. While some clubs in the top league could seek alternative ways to travel, other rely on the buses for longer journeys. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) already postponed all the games of Youth First Division scheduled for this weekend.

A truck drivers’ strike which affected rubbish collection in the City of Buenos Aires this morning was lifted after an agreement was reached between the workers and their union.

Workers from the rubbish collection companies AESA and Cliba went on strike last night, in protest for the bad running of the Truck Drivers’ Union health insurance, OSCHOCA. The protesting workers blocked the exits to the companies, affecting the rubbish collection service in the neighbourhoods of Palermo, Belgrano, La Boca, Barrio Norte, Barracas, San Telmo, Colegiales, and Núñez.

This morning, the city’s Ministry of Environment and Public Spaces sued the striking waste collectors -who could face fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 and up to ten days in prison- and minister Diego Santilli said that they “are going to pursue this in court until the end, because we can’t be hostages of a union conflict that could leave the city in a state of sanitary emergency.”

Shortly afterwards, however, the Truck Drivers’ Union confirmed that the strike had been lifted. The union’s press secretary, Hugo Pistone, announced that “an agreement has been reached” and that the workers received “the necessary answer to their claim.” The rubbish collection service will return to normal at 4pm.

The strike organised by the truck drivers’ union that is blocking the transport of fuel continues today, accompanied by increased tension between union leaders and government officials. President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner cut her trip to the Rio +20 conference short in order to address conflicts created by the strike.

Last night, Head of the Labour Confederation (CGT) Hugo Moyano announced that the strike would become a nation-wide one, accompanied by a large mobilisation at Plaza de Mayo tomorrow. The delivery of fuel at many refineries across the country remains blocked by the union’s actions.

The government responded by filing a criminal lawsuit this morning against Hugo Moyano, as well as against his son Pablo Moyano of the truck drivers’ union. The lawsuit, submitted by Minister of Interior and Transportation Florencio Randazzo was issued because of “threats and actions” that “create a dangerous situation” and “impede the functioning of transportation.” This morning, Minister of Labour Carlos Tomada also announced that the union would receive a fine of $ 4 million for not complying with the conciliatory agreement signed on Tuesday.

Union leaders and government officials alike issued public criticisms and commented on their refusal to negotiate. In a radio interview Tomada assured that he “would not deal with a union that is generating this kind of instability” and that “as long as the union keeps breaking the law, we will increase our sanctions against them.”

Hugo Moyano also announced on television that he was unwilling to negotiate. He said he would not give in to the government, and would not align himself with the interests of “someone who does not respond to the demands of workers, and certainly not with a government that is losing its national and popular political stance.”

Pablo Moyano, assistant secretary of the truck driver’s union today announced surprise strikes across the country after a breakdown of wage talks.

Pablo, son of Hugo Moyano, head of General Confederation of Labour (CGT), announced the surprise strikes speaking in a press conference today.

He said meetings would be called to discuss a plan of action after the Cargo Logistics Chamber refused to increase wages by 30%. Unions are also asking for employers to provide a sum between $3-4 million for compensation for income tax, and remove the cap on the collection of family allowances.

Moyano also criticised businesses for not listening to workers demands, but claimed he was “open to dialogue” with those involved.

“We will start with meetings and then we will make surprise strikes,” said Pablo Moyano, claiming hour-long meetings and surprise strikes will take place across 15 cargo loads.

“It is better for them to agree now, before it is too late,” he said, citing newspapers, magazines, food, rubbish collection and fuel as amenities that could be affected.

He also criticised the government’s role in the process, claiming, “the government does not speak about inflation in order to cover some things up. Not everything is rosy like they are trying to make out.”

The downtown core of Buenos Aires is set to be jammed by striking truck drivers tomorrow, fighting against 2,300 lost jobs with the supermarket Eki.

The strike is planned to last 24 hours. A statement signed by the union assistant secretary Pablo Moyano is also calling for its affiliates to stop delivery and logistics to the supermarkets Friday – a move that will affect the normal supply of goods to other companies as well.

Truckers are also warning that they will continue with further plans to fight until the situation is “resolved favorably for the workers.”

La Nación reported that President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s government had no comment on the situation yesterday.

Moyano – who is also the son of truck driver union head Hugo Moyano – said they will march to the Ministry of Labor to “see if [Carlos] Tomada reacts.”

“The Ministry of Labour acted from the outset, stepped in and declared the compulsory conciliation and there were a lot of meetings. Now, it’s time to negotiate and get a meeting tomorrow [for today] with the Labor Ministry,” an insider close to Tomada told La Nación.

A rally is also set to take place at the Ministry of Labour office on Av. Leandro N. Alem starting at noon.

This is not the first time the truck drivers’ union have used their muscle to put the city at a standstill. Tensions have been high between the federal government and the organisation, as well as with other unions. On 30^th January, for example, Moyano’s union blocked truck access to Correo Argentina – the country’s mail service – because the union believed the Kirchner government did not adequately defend truckers against Italian gas company Camuzzi’s 200-employee layoff.