The strike was the largest labor action since the government of Peronist Néstor Kirchner took office 18 months ago.

On November 3, more than 5,000 telephone workers rallied in downtown Buenos Aires to push their demands, which included a 25 percent wage hike, better working conditions, and job security. Workers took over two buildings owned by Telefónica and Telecom November 30 and maintained the occupation until ratification of the union contract. Their action resulted in the disruption of some service. Long-distance calls to the Caribbean, for example, required operator assistance to go through.

“We feel exploited and manipulated,” Claudio Magdalena, 40, who has worked at Telefónica for 16 years, told Bloomberg News. “We have accidents and injuries from having to work on telephone poles without proper equipment.” Magdalena said he struck mainly to get a decent raise in his monthly wage of 800 pesos (3 pesos=US$1), which isn’t enough to make ends meet for him and his five children.

The strike was one of a number of labor actions for improved wages and working conditions as workers feel more confident to fight for their interests, as Argentina’s economy is in its first upturn since the financial collapse four years ago.

The country’s gross domestic product grew 8.7 percent in 2003 and is projected to grow 7 percent this year. In response to struggles by working people, the government recently decreed an across-the-board wage increase of 100 pesos per month for public and private workers, beginning in 2005.

Cristiano Ratazzi, president of Fiat Auto Argentina, expressed the opposition of many businessmen to this measure. “It is necessary to return to the normal system in how raises are negotiated between the workers and the company and not by decree,” he told the daily Clarín, arguing that the wage increase will force Fiat to raise car prices by 4 to 5 percent.

“The businessmen are never in agreement with wage increases, and never accept the legitimacy of our claims,” responded Hugo Moyano, one of the three central leaders of the CGT labor federation.

Three hundred truck drivers struck December 4 in response to violations of their union contract by three companies that do street cleaning. “They are not paying the overtime rate and minimal safety measures are not being met,” said union leader Pablo Moyano. Workers have blocked streets and are demanding back pay.

On December 6, subway workers in Buenos Aires who are members of transportation workers union UTA went on strike to demand a 55 percent wage increase and the reinstatement of extra pay for night work, which was taken away 14 months ago. The company, Metrovías, has reportedly agreed to reinstate the night work bonus, but has not responded to the demand for a substantial pay raise. UTA has demanded that the wage increase come from the company’s profits and not from government subsidies. Roberto Pianelli, a member of UTA, told Clarín that the company currently receives 65 million pesos in subsidies while it pays 50 million pesos in wages.  
 
 
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