CGT Strike: About 15 buses were attacked with stones in Bahía Blanca

The bus service in Bahía Blanca was interrupted after stone attacks were reported on at least 15 units of different lines since the early morning.

The idea was for public transportation to operate normally throughout Thursday, despite the general strike called by the CGT, the third against Javier Milei's administration. The mayor Federico Susbielles stated that the violent acts were "coordinated and within a span of 20 minutes".

As a result of these vandalistic acts, which caused broken windows and other material damages but no injuries, the UTA immediately decided that the drivers return to the terminals.

"In agreement with the companies, given the wave of damage and vandalism to the units, services are stopped for the safety of passengers, drivers, and the buses", the transport workers' union informed local media, as published by the newspaper La Nueva. The measure was announced around 8 in the morning.

It should be noted that the UTA did not participate in the national strike. The main suspicion is that the attacks were allegedly driven by union sectors seeking to force the transport to join the strike. The incidents occurred almost simultaneously and in different parts of the city, which is still recovering from the severe storm that hit it a month ago.

"We had spoken with the Municipality to provide security and with the businessmen, to try to protect the passenger and our members, but it seems they couldn't because the attacks were in many places and in many cases", said Guillermo Ostachini, local secretary of the UTA.

At least 15 buses belonging to the companies San Gabriel, Rastreador Fournier, and Sapem Transporte suffered attacks, which mainly caused damage to windshields, rear windows, and side windows.

Ostachini reported that on Friday the public transport service will operate normally in Bahía Blanca, as the companies "are working to repair the damages".

The mayor's complaint

"It's unfortunate and deplorable that in such a sad and complex moment for the city we experience acts of violence like those recorded this morning against public transport buses in Bahía Blanca. The acts of vandalism were perpetrated in a coordinated manner and within a span of 20 minutes, before sunrise", expressed mayor Federico Susbielles through his account on the social network X.

The municipal leader offered the Justice access to the municipality's security camera recordings to assist with the investigation.

He also indicated that he requested the city's Undersecretary of Transport and Mobility, Fabián Lliteras, to file a criminal complaint for the damages caused to the municipal units.

"The constitutional right to protest must respect social peace and the right to move and work of those who choose to do so, and in that sense, I highlight the statement that the local CGT has issued in this regard", added Susbielles.

Also in the AMBA

During the early hours of the strike, a similar incident was reported in the Conurbano. A bus from line 269 was stoned at the intersection of Leloir and Udaondo streets, in Parque Leloir.

To prevent such incidents, in the City and Greater Buenos Aires several drivers chose to start their routes from 5 in the morning.