After the interurban transport strikes in the province of Córdoba last Monday the 22nd and Friday the 25th, this Monday the Automotive Transport Industry Workers Association (AOITA) announced that it had reached a “provisional” salary agreement and that there will be guaranteed service for 60 days.
Emiliano Gramajo, head of the union, pointed out Chain 3 that the accepted proposal includes a salary increase of 50% for the months of April and May, and 58% as of July 1st. “We are talking about 300,000 pesos for April, 300,000 pesos for May and the rest goes to the basics,” he explained.
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Gramajo also noted that the current service is “very bad” and that working conditions are “disastrous.” He proposed redesigning the transportation system, criticizing the idea of cutting kilometers and laying off workers when today the system no longer works properly. The union leader emphasized that workers must have a place at the table to discuss these issues.
Regarding the financing of the agreed salary increase, Gramajo indicated that the companies are responsible, although he recognized the mediation of the State in this process. Regarding the next steps after this provisional agreement for 60 days, he said: “As of June 1, we will sit down again to discuss what will be from July onwards.”
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Gramajo further highlighted the urgent need to improve not only working conditions, but also the overall quality of service throughout the country.
For his part, the general director of transportation of the province, Cristian Sansalone, remarked to Chain 3 that this agreement will allow us to begin a process of reconstruction and redesign of the system in response to a new paradigm without subsidies and with a full rate.
With respect to differentiated rate, the provincial official expressed; “In the coming days, there will be some update regarding differentiated rates, subject to a public hearing. It will be for peak hourswhich will have a higher rate”.
“In this way, it is encouraged that people who do not have to come to work or school with fixed hours can choose to come at other times, with rates that will be much cheaper. It is 6 to 9in the morning, and 18 to 21at dusk,” he explained.
Sansalone explained that the goal is to make the system more efficient and orderly. To this end, measures are being studied such as the implementation of a differentiated fare by time, the review of the passenger-kilometer index on each line and coordination with municipal urban services to cut unnecessary kilometers.
In addition, it introduced the possibility of coordinating the intercity and urban systems to allow single payments and facilitate transit between the two. According to Sanzalone, these measures will require “a lot of coordination” with mayors and municipal authorities.
Report by Gonzalo Carrasquera.
