The large central unions want the contribution system to be equitable, but the small ones want it to be based on the number of members.
He plebiscite driven by the PIT-CNT against security reform in Uruguay It has not been a process free of internal conflicts, even from the moment of the vote on the initiative itself, which was not unanimous. Since that moment, the differences between the different unions that make up the union center have been emerging and, more or less, being resolved. Now, the differences are concentrated in the campaign financing mode collection of signatures that they carry out, without support from the Wide Front and with the reluctance of the large unions to be the ones that shoulder the costs.
Barely two years have passed since the last time the PIT-CNT faced the organization of a referendum, when the campaign was focused on the rejection of 135 articles of the Urgent Consideration Law (LUC). At that time, the Financial Support of the Frente Amplio was key for the central; and the absence of this is the main difference that must be faced on this occasion, where the disagreements between the different unions were noted both in the consensus of the strategy to follow against the pension reform and, later, to agree on the proposals on a ballot. driven.
The financing of the first stage of collecting signatures is the new point of disagreement in a negotiation that already has the large unions that make up the center aligned to propose a non-traditional contribution system next November 9, when the Representative Table.
This is what they intend Single National Union of Construction and Annexes (Sunca) and the Uruguayan Health Federation (FUS)which are the most contributing unions of the PIT-CNT —63,000 and 27,000 contributors, respectively. They are also aligned with the Federation of Commerce and Services Employees (Fuecys), with 18,000 contributors; and the Association of Bank Employees of Uruguay (AEBU)with 12,000 contributors.
They also have support in the Federation of Beverage Workers and Employees (FOEB) and the Uruguayan Federation of Teachers (FUM).
What is the proposal of the large unions?
The idea promoted by the most contributing unions of the PIT-CNT is that the contribution to the campaign signature collection equal for all; That is, it is not tied to a percentage per affiliate, according to El Observador. The argument is that the guilds’ accounts are already depleted and that, with the traditional system, the bulk of the campaign ends up falling on the shoulders of the large guilds.
In this sense, in central meetings the possibility of requesting $2,000 to all unions, which would total an initial amount of 88,000 if the 44 affiliates that commonly take part in these causes are counted. The first stage of the campaign would be completed with a total contribution of $5,000 per union, in order to reach up to $220,000.
With this scheme it would be guaranteed that there is no shortage of money, at the same time that each union could face its own campaign – as is usual – in parallel to the one unified by the PIT-CNT.
However, the decision will not be easy, since there are unions such as the Association of Social Security Workers (ATSS) who oppose payment under equal conditions, since they understand that there are unions that have greater contribution capacity What others.
Source: Ambito
