The government yesterday ordered the Federal Police to guard the distribution and printing plants of the dailies Clarín and La Nación yesterday in order to “prevent potential pickets by the teamsters’ union.” The decision came after the pro-government truck drivers union — headed by Pablo Moyano, the son of CGT union umbrella group head Hugo Moyano — blocked distribution plants on Wednesday.
Yet the news channel TN last night reported that union activists again blocked three distribution plants in the neighbourhood of Barracas. The reports said workers were not allowed to leave the plants by the activists.
The new protest came after Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández said he had issued the order to guard the plants after the first pickets by the truck drivers earlier this week. 
The teamsters targeted the plants arguing that newspaper delivery workers hired by co-operatives must belong to their union.
Fernández said in a radio interview that he met with Clarín executive Jorge Rendo and La Nación publisher Julio Saguier yesterday.
“Jorge Rendo called me at about  2:40 in the morning (on Thursday) to tell me what was going on,” said Fernández. “I immediately instructed the Federal Police to guard the place and avoid any possible complications,” he added.
“I spoke with La Nación’s publisher later and assured him that the necessary (police) protection will be provided for this not to happen again,” said Fernández.
                       — Herald staff with agen