Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Macri ratifies subway fare hike
Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri came on stage to ratify the 127 percent subway fare hike after City Judge Fernando Juan Lima yesterday rejected requests for legal protection on subway fares, meaning that a one-way ticket will continue to cost 2.50 pesos.
The business tycoon explained that "We'd all like to pay less, or even have public transportation service for free, but the subway train network must keep on functioning, we have to pay the workers' salaries and we can't do it without implemeting a tariffs increase, most if we don’t have subsidies for the service a tariffs assessment was needed.”
Thus, Macri seems to have forgotten that part of the agreement sealed with the national government includes the national government still granting the City with 50 percent of the subsidy funds they used to pay, for the next 12 months.
Likewise, Macri referred to the protests set by a multi-sector front organized by subway workers, labour, social, political and student organizations that allowed commuters to travel for free after the City government raised fares.
“We will listen to whatever complaints subway workers might have against the contractor company [Metrovías], as we are the first ones interested in see them comply to all labour policies, plus to provide an excellent service.”
Furthermore, Macri revealed that the license agreement with the contractor is still being discussed with Metrovías, “We will have it ready within the next 90 days.”
Asked about the statements made by Kirchnerite Senator Aníbal Fernández saying to be “surprised” by the ruling of Judge Lima as it "affects millions of commuters", the Mayor replied “You all know him. He talks to the media on daily basis, so let’s not pay that much attention to what Mr. Fernández says. Let’s move forward that there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Subway Workers’ representative Néstor Segovia confirmed that the protest schedule remains the same as last week, with passengers being allowed to ride for free between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm at the city’s most important stations.
Last Friday, the front presented Judge Juan Lima with a document with over 200,000 signatures rejecting the hike.
The business tycoon explained that "We'd all like to pay less, or even have public transportation service for free, but the subway train network must keep on functioning, we have to pay the workers' salaries and we can't do it without implemeting a tariffs increase, most if we don’t have subsidies for the service a tariffs assessment was needed.”
Thus, Macri seems to have forgotten that part of the agreement sealed with the national government includes the national government still granting the City with 50 percent of the subsidy funds they used to pay, for the next 12 months.
Likewise, Macri referred to the protests set by a multi-sector front organized by subway workers, labour, social, political and student organizations that allowed commuters to travel for free after the City government raised fares.
“We will listen to whatever complaints subway workers might have against the contractor company [Metrovías], as we are the first ones interested in see them comply to all labour policies, plus to provide an excellent service.”
Furthermore, Macri revealed that the license agreement with the contractor is still being discussed with Metrovías, “We will have it ready within the next 90 days.”
Asked about the statements made by Kirchnerite Senator Aníbal Fernández saying to be “surprised” by the ruling of Judge Lima as it "affects millions of commuters", the Mayor replied “You all know him. He talks to the media on daily basis, so let’s not pay that much attention to what Mr. Fernández says. Let’s move forward that there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Subway Workers’ representative Néstor Segovia confirmed that the protest schedule remains the same as last week, with passengers being allowed to ride for free between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm at the city’s most important stations.
Last Friday, the front presented Judge Juan Lima with a document with over 200,000 signatures rejecting the hike.
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Judge backs City's subway fare hike
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