The union is intensifying its measures and Passerini is ignoring the reduction of public positions. Who ends up paying the bill?
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This Wednesday marks 51 days of the Suoem strike, which continues with daily assemblies, roadblocks, and demonstrations without viable proposals for the city. The protest plan, which began as a wage demand, has turned into a political standoff with no signs of either side giving in. In the meantime, service in Córdoba is operating at half pace and citizens are losing confidence.
The Executive's offer was a 9% increase in three installments, substantially below inflation. The union rejected the proposal, arguing an accumulated wage loss of 14% to 20%. It is also demanding that the increases be included in the base salary and that precarious job categories be added.
Meanwhile, the municipality claims fiscal difficulties and a growing deficit. In this regard, there are allegations of an increase in unnecessary political spending while municipal salaries continue to lag. The conflict escalated, and yesterday service at the Tribunal de Faltas was suspended due to incidents involving hooded individuals.
Bandera LGBT en la Municipalidad de Córdoba, para celebrar el Día Provincial por la Igualdad y la No Discriminación
Strategic and confrontational union agenda
For weeks, Suoem has been ramping up the pressure with street blockades and ongoing assemblies downtown. Rubén Daniele's leadership has toughened its rhetoric: "This is not a wage conflict, it's a political conflict. They want to discipline the union." The strategy is clearly aimed at forcing a political response, not a reasonable wage solution.
The union is now threatening to "provincialize" the protest by bringing in unions from the interior and political heavyweights. That tactic shows that there are structural interests behind the strike rather than legitimate demands. The conflict goes beyond economic issues and seeks to erode municipal authority.
Protesta del Suoem en Córdoba Capital
Passerini: nonexistent cuts and weak leadership
The mayor, far from showing solve, has opted for empty speeches and attendance-based pay deductions. "We can't spend funds we don't have," he argued, while appointing positions and expanding the municipal political staff with complete ease. Likewise, the mass resignation in his cabinet reflects a government with no cohesion or political project whatsoever.
In a troubling episode, during the march to the Tribunal de Faltas, hooded individuals entered with drums and flares, creating a fire hazard. The Executive replied with a criminal complaint and labeled the action as "union violence". However, the lack of concrete authority leaves the municipality at the mercy of the conflict.
Un grupo de encapuchados del Suoem entró con bombos y bengalas al Tribunal de Faltas en mayo de este año
Three possible scenarios and a latent risk
Forced conciliation: could suspend the strike for 15 days, but without real dialogue, the union will reject it and intensify the conflict.
Union escalation: the call to extend the strike to the interior increases pressure on the province and shows that the objective is not wage-related.
Improved offer: this is the most sensible option, but the Executive has given no indication. Without fiscal tools, the measure would only calm the streets, not the accounts.
Córdoba Capital, una ciudad que, al parecer, Passerini no estima tanto
Córdoba's citizens held hostage by their two mayors
The heart of the matter is not just higher spending, but also knowing who is in charge in Córdoba. If Passerini doesn't implement real cuts or rethink his strategy, the strike will continue. If Daniele doesn't present a serious offer, Córdoba will pay an increasingly higher price.
While the city remains paralyzed, Córdoba seems to have two mayors: one with an office in the Palacio 6 de Julio who doesn't govern, and another with a microphone and a union who rules from the street. Between Passerini's passivity and Daniele's bullying, the only loser is the ordinary citizen, held hostage by a conflict they do not deserve.
Residents no longer know whether to avoid the blockades or the excuses. While one multiplies positions and doesn't dare to make adjustments, the other entrenches himself in privileges from another era disguised as union struggle. In this tragicomedy of power, services are not provided, offices do not function, and Córdoba's citizens' patience ran out long ago.
