The Subway and Premetro Workers Union Association (AGTSyP-Metrodelegadxs) will hold a three-hour strike this Wednesday across all subway lines and the Premetro, from 1 to 4 p.m., demanding a reduction in working hours to reduce exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral present in subway cars.

From 12 to 1 p.m., the turnstile will be open for passengers to travel free of charge in the following subway stations: 

• San Pedrito (A line)
• Juan Manuel de Rosas (B line)
• Constitución (C line)
• Congreso de Tucumán (D line)
• Virreyes (E line)
• Facultad de Derecho (H line)

These are all end stations of their respective subway lines.

The union is demanding its work day be reduced from 36 to 30 hours a week to reduce asbestos exposure.

“We’ve done everything we humanly can for [Emova] to give a solution to this health crisis caused by the presence of carcinogenic asbestos, and for them to stop putting the lives of millions of subway users and workers in danger,” the union said in a press release. “We still have no answers; on the contrary, they have refused to engage in talks.”

The workers said they were forced to take these measures and warned they will intensify if they don’t receive any solutions from the company regarding a de-asbestization plan.

“The company running the subway service (Emova) and the Buenos Aires city government are responsible for this situation; they try to disregard the seriousness of the crisis caused by a deadly mineral that has been banned since 2003 and that they haven’t removed from the Buenos Aires subway area,” the union said.

According to AGTSyP, asbestos exposure has already caused the death of 3 subway workers, while 6 others have developed cancer and 87 others have suffered health issues in the past years.

The union also said that one passenger’s lungs have been affected, and 2150 workers have to undergo medical checkups every year because of asbestos exposure.

This is the 19th strike since March, the previous one being on July 19. Emova, the company that runs the subway service, has admitted the presence of asbestos, but said “conditions were adequate” to work.

“The company is actively working on a de-asbestization plan, continuing with the process initiated five years ago,” the company added in a press release published last week, in reference to work done by Metrovías, the company previously in charge of the subway.

“Emova continues to signal its openness to talks, but reducing the work week from 36 to 30 hours is unfeasible without affecting subway operability,” they said.