CGT leaders disregard CFK's 'confrontation' statements, blame corporations

The CGT Labour Confederation replied to statements made by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, in which she suggested that the organization should lower their levels of confrontation. The umbrella union said that it was “businessmen in the corporate world”, not them, that started the conflict and demanded “more responsibility.” 

“This CGT has been the most rational one in recent times,” newspaper salesmen union representative Omar Plaini said. “Many of the conflicts are not born inside this organization. We cannot have an on-going conflict for over two years and a half and still have no answer. Workers have been making their demands for two years, and at a certain point everything blows up,” he said, as he tried to explain the recent rise in roadblocks and strikes.

“We are all supposed to be responsible, including the corporate world. But the average Argentine businessman has always enjoyed a carefree life, taking advantage of everything,” he said. 

On Tuesday, while Fernández de Kirchner was giving a speech, she complained that “certain conflicts were making us lose some important benefits in the oil sector.” Her criticism was directed towards unionized organizations, such as the Truckers’ Union, which after blocking the Entrance to several oil refineries in the City and Greater Buenos Aires area, threatened to “paralyze the country” if oil companies did not agree to pay a bonus over the transportation of “dangerous materials.”

Plaini explained that his interpretation of the President’s statement was that “she was urging for the creation of a new project between workers and corporations. We all have to find a way to do so. It would be great if the corporate sector sat down with us in order to discuss revenue sharing.” 

Dredging union leader Juan Carlos Schmid also replied to the President’s comment, and even though he admitted that “certain aspects” of their methodology had to be revised, he said that “in the last six years of negotiations, we have never paralyzed the country. We have never called for a general strike.”

“She’s saying that, besides supporting her reelection, we must look for way to get along harmonically. She asked us to look for a dialogue that allows us to maintain an intelligent relationship with society, and we’re getting there,” Schmid expressed. 

City Mayor Mauricio Macri also commented on the President’s statements and said that he agreed with her, since he believes unions have to “tone down their conflict levels,” but warned that “the current abuse of power being exerted by CGT leader Hugo Moyano is a direct result of his alliance with the Kirchners.”

“I couldn’t agree more with her when she says that we all have to know there are limits to protest,” he stated. However, he believes that “Moyano’s abuse of power has been very damaging to Argentina.” 

“The law and respect for others are our limits. If we follow the law, we will be free. Without the law, it’s just survival of the fittest,” he concluded.