The Labour Ministry declared a mandatory conciliation to put an end to the eight-day conflict that is affecting the service of the Sarmiento train line. The union faction led by Rubén ‘Pollo’ Sobrero, which is demanding a wage increase and compensation for its workers, will have to refrain from protesting for 15 working days.
The Ministry considered the protests “an abuse of the right to strike”, as they are being carried out before the beginning of the wage negotiations, and indicated that the compensations over the transfer of the train operating company into state hands which the union is demanding is “not applicable”.
Sobrero commented on the matter on his Twitter account today, saying that “we accept [the mandatory conciliation] subject to a vote at the general assembly” of the Sarmiento workers which is being held now. The meeting had been called before the Ministry’s announcement, to decide whether to carry out a 24-hour strike tomorrow. Sobrero added that “Today marks the end of the first part of our struggle! A negotiation opportunity which we have been waiting for since the first day has been opened!”On Wednesday, Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo and President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner will introduce the new trains purchased from China for the Sarmiento line. The ceremony was going to take place today, but was cancelled as the president clear her schedule to accompany her mother, who is undergoing surgery, at the hospital.
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