The union led by Roberto Fernández hoped to update the basic salary to $987,000 for the more than 50,000 drivers who are members of the union. They were able to agree on that figure, but through two non-remunerative bonuses of $250,000: one in May, another in June. That is why the UTA stopped the warning to resume the “retention of tasks” on Friday the 26th.
Salaries: what are the options to pay the non-remunerative sum
However, the cost structure recognizes, according to Resolution 15/2024 of the Ministry of Transportation, a salary of $737,000 by driver. The question of how to finance The remuneration amount remains unresolved.
Until the closing of this note, the ruling party maintains that an increase in the ticket is not confirmed. Nor an increase in subsidies. For the first thing, Luis Caputo, Minister of Economy, is still analyzing facing the political cost of hindering the reduction of inflation. For the second, the same but for intervening in the dogmatic “there’s no money”.
Even so, a third option appears, a product of the reality that prevails. Starting Wednesday, May 8 and for three weeks, the Roca line will work with a special diagram in all its branches due to the completion of repair tasks on arch 21 of the Barracas viaduct, at California Street.
From Trenes Argentinos they assure that the work “are of an urgent nature” since they are essential to maintain operational security wherever More than 600 trains circulate daily. But it is still a problem for the daily influx of passengers, since these arrangements will involve a 30% reduction in its usual diagram.
For example, in the branches La Plata and Bosques via Quilmes A train will run every 40 minutes (instead of every 24). As both branches share roads between Constitución and Berazategui, this implies that people traveling on this section They will have a frequency of 20 minutes.
On the other hand, the trains that connect Constitución Square with Ezeiza, Alejandro Korn (previously every 12) and Forests via Temperley (previously every 14) they will every 20 minutes. Since these branches follow the same route between Constitution and Temperley, the passenger will have a train every 10 minutes in that sector.
The Government, knowing that three weeks of conflict regarding transport are approaching, decided to put this situation on the negotiating table. “We are requesting support from the business chambers of groups on operational issues“, they admit behind closed doors.
The conflict between the Government and the unions to find a solution
Trenes Argentinos assures that it is operationally impossible to carry out the task without affecting the service. And from the collective business sector they assure that There are more than 1600 groups available, those that the Government announced that it will stop subsidizing.
On March 15, the spokesperson for the Presidency, Manuel Adorni, announced the Government’s decision to remove the subsidy from more than 1637 collectives, thus saving $6.2 billion per month. “A faucet of waste, inefficiency and darkness is dismantled”, assured the official at the conference.
Javier Milei’s spokesperson indicated that the decision was made “based on a study that determined serious irregularities”. This is how he explained that “the State distributed subsidies for a vehicle fleet of 18,300 buses but it was never controlled if this was the amount that transited through the AMBA.” In that sense, he stated that “A non-existent offer was subsidized and it was not controlled whether that amount was necessary or whether the fleet was adequate.”.
From AAETA they explain that resolution 612/23, published last November, already exposed the issue. It is not a discovery of the current management, but with Diego Giuliano at the head of Transportation it was already a question.
As explained in the sector, these are enabled cars, with VTV, sure and record of the National Transport Regulation Commission (CNRT) up to date. They are unused units because the outdated cost structure had already forced the service to be cut back then.
“The $6.6 billion saved only represents a fraction of the total cost, 5%, compared to the $9 billion per month we are owed due to errors in the cost structure“, they say in AAETA and they contradict: “those 1600 will surely be more in the next measurement, maybe 3000, because of the turnstile on rates and subsidies.”
Collectives: the Government asked to “strengthen services” to avoid complications for users
In this context, the business chambers confirm that the Government “asked to strengthen services”. They know that until May 29, the 30% drop in the Roca frequency will be disruptive to normal circulation.
For this reason, they are waiting for greater details, that is, if financing appears for the salary increase and in exchange to cover the shortage of trains.
On May 2, the parties -UTA and businessmen- will meet again at the Ministry of Labor. That week the new cost structure will be known. The chambers think that the greater the subsidy or increase in rates, the The Government would prefer to adjust by number of cars. But the Roca arrangements are a priority and the 160 groups are on the table.
Source: Ambito
