MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Union leader defies Cristina Fernandez: Moyano fears nobody and only bends before God

Moyano said he has no evidence of “corruption in government”

The head of Argentina’s organized labour confederation, CGT, Hugo Moyano, asked the Government of President Cristina Fernandez to say whether they are going to accept their demands included in the collective bargaining talks or not, after warning that he “fears nobody” and that he only “bends before God.”

“Moyano is not afraid, he only bends before God. That’s why, if we do not have an answer, we at least expect them to tell us that they will not give us what we demand” said Moyano on Wednesday during a rally at the CGT headquarters in Buenos Aires.

Moyano emphasized that some sectors of the Argentine government “mistake social inclusion with social justice.”

“Man reaches dignity through work and a decent salary. Many mistake social inclusion with social justice. Peronism flags are the ones of social inclusion, that is the reality we are battling” Moyano highlighted.

The head of the CGT also assured that the Government ”is ignoring the workers, not Moyano.”

“It’s not possible that the government pretends to impose a roof on salaries negotiations, if not let them simply decree an increase. I think there is a lack of respect for workers”, cautioned Moyano, regarding the Cristina Fernandez administration non written suggestion that salary increases remain below 18%.

Moyano also blasted the government for retaining the unions’ health funds, “the least they can do is tell us they won’t accept the claim and the State will retain the 15 billion Pesos (3.5bn dollars)”.

Before the rally Moyano admitted that at the moment he has no dialogue with any of the government’s ministers. “I don’t speak or have spoken with people from government, besides I don’t like going pleading after anybody”, he said, pointing out he does not feel betrayed by President Cristina Fernandez, “in any case she is betraying workers’ claims”.

When asked about corruption in government, particularly regarding Vice President Amado Boudou, Moyano said he had “no evidence of corruption in government”, but admitted there are some leads under investigation.

“Some things are under investigation such as the Schoklender case (Mothers of Plaza de Mayo funds) and the report against Vice President Boudou, as far as I know”.

Boudou is under investigation allegedly for involvement in a several million dollars contract to print money for the Central bank.

Moyano also mentioned that in his modest opinion “there is not sufficient consensus for the re-re-election of President Cristina Fernandez.

The ceremony took place in celebration of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Worker’s Rights Declaration by former president Juan Domingo Perón, and was previously planned for last week but was cancelled in light of the Once train crash and tragedy.