Thousands of Argentine unemployed turned to the streets of Buenos Aires blocking streets in demand for government subsidies generating a massive traffic chaos for the second day running. On Tuesday it was the underground workers that walked out leaving literally millions stranded in Argentina’s capital as the political and social climate dangerously escalates.
Pickets again occupied the world’s widest avenue, 9 de Julio, where last week they camped overnight virtually bringing ground transport to a standstill as an estimated additional 300.000 vehicles tried to circulate in the city.
The picket organizations, mostly run by left wing groups, accuse the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of distributing the subsidies among organizations which respond to the government or to loyal unions.
“Our claim is very specific: we want all fellow workers without jobs to have access to government subsidies and to the cooperative public works plan launched by the government”, Guillermo Kane from the “Workers’ Pole” is quoted by the press.
“Workers’ Pole” is one of several organizations of pickets originally created by the government with the subsidies but which have lately become independent or have ceased to be aligned behind the Kirchner couple or the powerful trade unions movement under control of Hugo Moyano, head of teamsters.
The underground conflict is also a dispute among unions. Moyano wants them to join his teamsters union, which the independent tube workers reject since they consider them “too corrupt” and aligned with the Kirchners.
So far the underground workers have managed to resist in spite of teamsters thug tactics against some union leaders including the beating up of the family of one of them.
The situation has turned so chaotic that even conductors of light but very popular soap programs have openly requested Mrs. Kirchner to “restablish order” and get the “fatty thugs” out of the streets in reference to the bullying tactics of the teamsters who have also blocked the distribution of Buenos Aires main dailies such as Clarin and La Nacion, that have become systematic critics of the Kirchners.
Following several years of growth at “Chinese rates” averaging 7% annually the Argentine economy has been facing since the end of 2008 a strong downturn which have ballooned poverty and indigence indexes.
Many of them spurred by pickets organizations have taken to the streets to protest and demand similar unemployment benefits.
Mrs. Kirchner was particularly furious and sarcastic with those television programs which promote through dance and singing competitions, aid for private charities supporting the needy and showing them on the screen.
The Argentine government reacted by extending a special allowance for every child below 18 on certain conditions particularly family’s income.
This however has also been blended with political patronizing through the town halls which are faithful to the Kirchners.
But a majority of people seem to prefer queuing at the federal social security offices.
“The government has told us in private negotiations that it will change its current policy which means only through political backing you can have access to the benefits. They promised to end patronizing and cronyism. If this does not become effective in a week’s time we will decide additional protest measures”, anticipated Kane.
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