The protest was dated for October 31 and will consist of “Argentines turn off the light for 10 minutes,” between 9 and 9:30 p.m., as a sign of disagreement with the rate increases that Javier Milei’s government has been applying since his inauguration.
National blackout against high rates
The Multisector Forum Against Tariffs is made up of various actors from civil society and is articulated by the Minister of Infrastructure and Public Services of the province of Buenos Aires, Gabriel Katopodiswhose objective is to coordinate actions against increases in water, electricity and gas bills.
The protest measure was launched on October 8 at a press conference led by Katopodis himself. There, the Buenos Aires official denounced the “atrocious rates” promoted by the libertarian administration and assured that the members of the space are “crossed by the same tragedy, which is paying the electricity bill in Argentina.”
“It is a real tragedy, a real headache, an anguish for any middle or lower middle class, working family, who has to do the math every month to see how they face the weight of what payment means to a family. of electricity, gas, water, transportation. All of this with a single pocket that is thin,” said the minister.
Since then, Katopodis was active, touring different neighborhoods of the Federal Capital and the Province with the aim of joining his neighbors in the national blackout this Thursday.
In reference to the measure of force, he anticipated that it will consist of “reject the high tariff with a national, peaceful, responsible, serious blackout throughout the country, calling on Argentinians, SMEs, merchants, neighborhood clubs, so that from 9:00 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. on October 31st we turn off the lights and let us reject an adjustment and a high tariff that cannot be afforded.”
Currently, the Multisector Forum against Tariffazos is made up of representatives of neighborhood clubs, SMEs, retirees and tenants, among others.
They denounce the impact of tariffs on public services
During the presentation, the rector of the National University of San Martín (UNSAM), Carlos Grecoexplained that in December they received an electricity bill for $12 million, while that number climbed to $40 million in January and $80 million in February.
In the same vein, Graciela Pampínof the General Confederation of Retirees, Pensioners, Retirees and Seniors, warned about the closure of numerous retirement centers and called for “fight so that the various social policies do not fall.” He also assured that “if there is a hit population, those are retirees” and said that the situation is “chaotic.”
This week there is also a 36-hour strike by ATE that will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29, and will include a mobilization from the Obelisk to Sturzenegger’s ministry.
This week, there will be a high degree of social conflict, since, in addition to the blackout, there are various forceful measures underway. This Wednesday the 30th, for example, the transport unions will carry out a 24-hour strike against the Government’s economic and labor policies.
In parallel, state workers gathered in ATE will organize a 36-hour strike, which will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29, and will include a mobilization from the Obelisk to Sturzenegger’s ministry.
Source: Ambito
