MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

National strike paralyzes Argentina; government blasts roadblocks

Downtown Buenos Aires and some of the main avenues empty of the daily chaotic traffic

Argentine organized labor leader Hugo Moyano called on the government of president Cristina Fernandez to take note of Thursday's strong mobilization across the country after unions affiliated to the Teamsters figure and gastronomic heavyweight Luis Barrionuevo caused widespread disruption.

 Speaking in the afternoon after work stoppages and roadblocks ground activity to a halt in Buenos Aires, Moyano praised the high level of adherence to industrial measures.

“The strike occurred with massive observance. In many cases it was over 90, 95 and 98% in some places. It has been a very, very important day,” the teamster leader underlined.

“We are interpreting what the people want expressed and that is clear, the anger people have, the disenchantment, due to the lack of answers from the national government.”
“We are humbly asking the government to pay attention to what the people have expressed through this type of measure. Mrs President, pay attention to the people's message, leave pride, attitude and mistreatment to one side,” Moyano further fired.

According to organized labor umbrella confederation, CGT, leader Juan Carlos Schmidt more than 1 million workers joined the general strike launched by anti-government unions, “paralyzing” activities across the country.

The second national strike against Cristina Fernandez government had a huge impact in the capital Buenos Aires and other main cities since all form of public transport, including flights, were cancelled and this was further supported by active roadblocks in strategic access places commanded by left wing groups.

This forced the cancelling of activities in the banking and financial heart of Buenos Aires giving the feeling of a ghost city.

From the government cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich said that what really happened was “a great roadblock by pickets supported by a transport strike” and claimed that Barrionuevo was the true leader of organized labor and as such the head of the “Renewal Front”, the main political opposition force, and of the left wing groups responsible for the roadblocks.

Moyano discarded Capitanich statements saying that unions were not involved in pickets or roadblocks, “there were no pickets in the port or airports” and insisted what really matters is that “they simply can't minimize the impact of the protest”.

The strike was organized to protest inflation, insecurity, no cap in the current round of salary negotiations, a higher minimum floor for income tax and a special emergency bonus for retirees and old pensioners.

“It's time the president pays attention to what people are demanding and comes up with replies” blasted Moyano.

Government lawmakers and mayors released a communiqué saying that the protest measures “only benefit the great corporations that pretend to impede the government's policy of economic growth with inclusion”.