Union sources report more than 30 road blockades as part of the mobilizations called by the Association of State Workers (ATE), which were joined by social organizations.

The unions are marching in cities of Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, which includes the capital and some twenty municipalities in the province of Buenos Aires, as well as in Cordoba, Rosario, La Plata, and other cities throughout the country. At this moment, lines of workers are heading towards the National Congress, where the executive branch has sent several bills it intends to impose starting in January, including the controversial amendment to the Labor Law, which the executive branch wants Congress to approve before the 30th.

The unions oppose this proposal because, they warn, it will lead to layoffs, reductions in already diminished wages, longer workdays, and obstacles to union activity.

Social organizations have joined the protests with their demands against hunger, given the extremely serious social situation affecting millions of low-income families.

In addition to rejecting the labor reform, the strike called by ATE (Association of State Workers) is for the reopening of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement that includes an emergency wage increase and in rejection of the attempted 10 percent cut for state workers.

jdt/jha/mh.