MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Teamsters return to work in Argentina, but new national strike programmed for next week

Hugo Moyano, leader of Argentina’s organized labour has the political initiative (Photo: NA)

Argentina’s head of organized labour confederation CGT, Hugo Moyano came on stage Thursday afternoon to announce the end of the national strike led by the Teamsters’ union.

However Moyano called for another strike next week as well a massive march to Plaza de Mayo where numerous unions will once again urge the national government to increase the income tax floor, and pay salary caps to all workers.

“No strike will be lifted until the government resolves the income tax issue. The salary hike obtained (25.5%) won’t solve it. We still want the government to sit with us and discuss an increase of the income tax salary floor, and guarantee the payment of salary caps for all workers” said Moyano during a much expected press conference.

“For this purpose, many numerous unions will join us next week in a massive demonstration at Plaza de Mayo.”

Likewise Moyano called on President Cristina Fernández to “please stop believing that she can do whatever she wants just because she obtained 54% of the vote, and be a more humble person. Otherwise, this government looks like an entourage of liars.”

Meanwhile, the president of the Cargo Transport Federation Luis Morales announced they have reached a 25.5% wage hike deal with teamsters amid a nationwide strike that was causing fuel shortages all over Argentina.

“We have come to an agreement with the teamsters. After a meeting with Hugo Moyano we have agreed a wage hike of 25.5% to be paid between next month and March 2013,” Morales said on Thursday during a televised press conference.

Moyano and the president of the transport federation met for two hours early this afternoon, in order to come to a head over the wage conflict.

“Transport employers have done everything they can to accompany the teamsters. This agreement was in fact a personal accord between Hugo Moyano and myself.

“I could even say that we took a step further in order to put through a wage deal like this. The companies were not exactly in the right economic position in order to allow this, but we did it in order to achieve social peace,” Morales stated.

The payments will begin shortly with a 12.5% in July, 7% in November and a further 6% in March of 2013, making a total of 25.5%.