The government today criticized subway workers who went on strike yesterday saying they are "taking passengers hostage" to voice their demands. Labour Minister Carlos Tomada had yesterday described the industrial action as "extortion."

Subway workers are flexing their muscles to press the government to grant a legal status to their union, after the voted in June to create a new organization to group them to splinter from the UTA transport workers union. UTA is sided with the pro-government CGT Labour Confederation headed by Hugo Moyano.

The government has denied a legal status to subway workers, as current labour laws say there can only be one union per economic branch. However, a recent ruling of the Supreme Court allowed shop stewards to have to different unions and ordered the authorities to take actions to democratize labour regulations.

The Cabinet Chief today blasted yesterday's strike, which is estimated to have affected 1.5 million commuters, claiming they are using commuters to improve their position in negotiations. "They are pressing the government by using the people," he noted.

He meanwhile celebrated the eviction of a protest that blocked the Pan-American highway yesterday saying "we got them out without beating anybody."