UTA doesn't join CGT's strike and used a government slogan to justify it

The Unión Tranviarios Automotor (UTA) confirmed that bus services will operate normally during the general strike called by the CGT for this Thursday. To justify its decision, the union led by Roberto Fernández and represented by its spokesperson Mario Calegari, relied on one of President Javier Milei's most repeated phrases: "Within the law everything, outside the law nothing."

"We are not going to expose our people to any kind of sanction or compromise the union's legal status," Calegari explained in statements to radio La Red.

The UTA is in the middle of a mandatory conciliation, dictated by the Ministry of Labor, following an unsolved wage conflict with the sector's business chambers. This conciliation extends until next May 3, so any forceful measure within that period would be considered illegal, which is why the union can't formally adhere to the strike.

Tensions with the CGT and partial support for the claim

From the CGT there were strong criticisms toward the UTA's stance. The co-general secretary, Octavio Arguello, recalled that "in the previous strike there were also buses and the strike was important anyway". For the leader, it is a matter of union conscience and not just legal aspects.

Despite not actively joining the strike, Calegari stated that the UTA agrees with the reasons for the claim. "What the CGT is proposing is very fair. We want free wage negotiations, we are in a discussion with a 1% cap", he expressed. In that sense, he criticized the salary cap imposed by the Government and asked that, if there is no real negotiation, "increases be set by decree, as the electoral board used to do."

Context of the conflict

Days ago, the UTA had announced its own strike due to the lack of agreement with the business chambers, but the measure was deactivated after the intervention of the Ministry of Labor, led by Julio Cordero. Since then, negotiations are under mandatory conciliation, a situation that legally prevents the union from taking forceful measures.

The UTA's decision marks a new rift in the union front, at a time of maximum tension between the CGT and Javier Milei's administration, which will face its third general strike since the beginning of the term. Although many unions will strike in protest against the Government's economic policies, motor transport will maintain its usual operation.