Formosa has had a bus strike for thirteen days and is far from finding a solution. This Monday, the mayor Jorge Jofre called for “zero tolerance” against “extortionate and violent methods” of the workers of the company Crucero Sur, the only provider of the urban passenger service, which They occupied the community headquartersthey cut off the central streets with buses parked across the pass and They fought with municipal employees for salary demands.
“The city, workers and neighbors are victims of another cowardly maneuver harmful to the common good for which we work so hard,” denounced the Peronist mayor.
Last week, Jofré was part of the municipal heads who asked to roll back the decision to eliminate the Interior Compensation Fund, which financed transportation subsidies in the provinces. After that measure Protests and strike began in the capital of Formosadue to salary demands that have not yet been resolved.
The debt is for “about 180 million pesos, for about 300 employees“, according to union sources told the Télam agency. “Although the Deliberative Council had given us 37 million as part of the bonus, it is not enough and We must eat“, they argued. Faced with this, they decided to continue the strike until this Monday, when a reduced service was going to be offered. However, a new day of protests and more virulent cuts.
“The governors They cannot attend to this essential right, which is public transportation.“, had declared Daniel Passerini, mayor of Córdoba and one of the spokespersons for the group that includes Jofré from Formosa, in the claim for the funds that the Nation decided to take from the provinces.
Thus, despite recognizing the lack of money to meet public transport expenses and having declared the sector’s emergency at the beginning of the month, Jofré charged this Monday against the Formosa bus driverswith a discourse that resonates similarly in national spheres in the face of the forms of protests.
“I will not allow that no one takes the people hostage that today had public transportation service as they had announced days ago and it was only a fallacy more disguised as a ‘protest’ measure that undermines the trust of the people and damages peaceful coexistence,” he said on social networks.
“To those who believe they can intimidate this Mayor with extortion and violent methodsI repeat that my commitment is to the people and the tool is dialogue, for that reason zero tolerance“, he added. Along these lines, the Transit Directorate carried out infraction reports to the groups that were crossed in the middle of the street to cut off free movement due to the strike.
Bus stoppage in Formosa
The paralysis of transport that has been going on for more than a week in the capital of Formosa affects 50 thousand users per day. For this reason, the commune decided last Tuesday the 13th to exceptionally authorize companies operating the transportation service. combis to perform the service.
Shortly after, Jofré denounced acts of violence against buses that appeared over the weekend with broken glasses.
The mayor indicated that he was not going to allow “anyone to endanger the lives of people who are doing their job honestly. I firmly condemn these cowardly and despicable acts“, he claimed.
In turn, the general secretary of the Automotive Tram Union (UTA) of Formosa had warned last week that the spirits of the workers of Crucero del Sur were already worn out and I was afraid I couldn’t control them.
“If a solution does not arrive these days, there may be a lazy colleague who I want to make a baton and I can’t control it. The bus burning could be an alternative“he warned.
In an effort to avoid reaching that stage, the drivers had agreed to go to work this Monday to generate income and find a solution for salaries and part of the bonus owed by the company.
However, they argued that The buses ran out of gasoline within a few hours and they blocked the main streets with parked vehicles for a new day of protests.
According to the newspaper The morning, The drivers arrived at the Municipal Palace and They tried to put up an awningbut they were arrested by shoving and insults by employees. “Who are they that they should come to make quilombo in our house? They have to go to the company to complain, or to the governor of the province. The mayor has nothing to do with it with this conflict,” claimed a municipal worker.
“We did not come to fight or incite violence. We just want to collect our salaries. We are not going to generate a fight or dispute between workers, between poor against poor”Diego Mendoza, general secretary of the Automotive Tram Union (UTA) in Formosa, responded shortly after.
A company, the groups, the municipality of Formosa and an endless conflict
The manager of Crucero del Sur, César Aguirre, acknowledged that “It is impossible for the company to get the funds.” “We also don’t want leave the province“he said in a warning tone.
The bus strike in Formosa has been going on for 13 days and the company has already warned that it has no way to get the funds.“We still can’t pay the bills or be able to buy food, or think about school supplies,” union sources stated in response.
While the strike continues, Jofré said that “those who take these actions are employees of a private company that nothing has to be claimed and expressed in front of a public institution and the solution to the problems is achieved with dialogue and willingness.” But The Peronist saw the conflict coming and for this reason he bowed to the joint letter of mayors in the face of the cut in national funds for transportation.
Despite a strong police operation, the unionist Mendoza upped the ante: “We are going to stay here, in front of the municipality, until there is a solution to the conflict. Otherwise we will continue with a popular pot“.
