Transport strike brings Buenos Aires and six Argentine provinces to a standstill

A national strike organized by the Unión Tranviarios Automotor (UTA) caused complete paralysis of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) and six other provinces in Argentina on Friday.

The strike is a result of the transportation companies’ failure to comply with the agreed-upon salary increase for UTA-represented workers, according to the union.

The “work retention,” as stated by the union, is affecting AMBA, La Plata (capital of Buenos Aires province), and the provinces of Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Formosa, Misiones, and Tucumán.

The union assured that transportation services would operate normally in the rest of the country where the salary increase has been implemented.

The general secretary of UTA, Roberto Fernández, accused the transport companies of holding workers and users hostage for their own sectorial interests.

He urged affected passengers to understand the workers’ stance in seeking the salary increase agreed upon months ago.

During the recent wage negotiations, the national authorities approved the demanded salary increase, but the transport companies rejected the agreement, citing a lack of economic resources, and called for an increase in state subsidies.

According to the Asociación Argentina de Empresarios del Transporte Automotor (AAETA), the state currently owes subsidies amounting to 38 billion pesos (approximately US$150 million).