A national strike called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) on May 9 will result in a loss of $200 million for Trenes Argentinos, according to the Secretary of Transportation. The strike by some unions in the railway sector will impact approximately 1 million people, with metropolitan, regional, and long distance train services being disrupted. In total, at least 6.6 million users will be left without public transport on this day, affecting nearly 5 million passengers in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area alone.
Outside the AMBA, around 1.5 million people in 60 localities across the country that use the SUBE card system will also be deprived of the opportunity to travel due to the strike. Despite the disruption, there are more than 2,300 bus units on the streets, with almost 40% of the normal service running. The National Transport Regulation Commission is working on controls to ensure the safety of bus drivers and passengers. Additional units are expected to be deployed in the coming hours.
The subway system is also not operational due to metro delegates joining the strike. This decision affects all subway lines as well as the Premetro. The National Government has announced that it will deduct the subsidy for the entire day from companies that do not provide services during the strike, signaling a shift in policy towards subsidizing strikes in the transportation sector.
In response to this situation, Argentina’s Ministry of Transportation is sending a message to unions urging them to allow those who wish to work to do so while emphasizing their commitment to protecting workers rather than using coercive tactics. This marks a significant change in how strikes are handled in the sector, with companies no longer funding those who do not provide services during strikes.
Despite these challenges and disruptions caused by union strikes, it’s worth noting that Argentina has a strong tradition of labor rights and worker protections enshrined in its constitution and laws.
Overall, it seems that there is an ongoing debate about how best