Argentines Are 'Fed Up,' Workers' Unions to Join Night Protests

Under the slogan "We Are Fed Up," Argentines are calling for a new 'pot banging' protest in capital Buenos Aires, on Jan. 4, to reject increases in rates of services and transportation.

RELATED:
Argentines Organize 'Pot-Banging' Protests After New Increases

"The movement against 'the big rate increase' or tarifazo is an initiative that comes from the people affected. It is not partisan. You have to put a brake on [the increase]," Pablo Servovich, a member of 'Argentine in Network,' said.

The Observatory of the Right to the City, the Communal Movement, Argentina in Network and the Coordinator of Neighborhood Assemblies called for meetings in different regions of Buenos Aires, similar to those seven days ago.

Last week, Macri's Government announced that there would be an increase in gas prices by 35%, transport costs by 40%, water costs by 50% and electricity bills by 55%.

As a consequence of the statement, Argentine workers' unions vow to join the new pot-banging protests.

"This is a conglomerate of unions that is willing to be on the streets to keep [the government] from fleeing the Argentines' pockets. We defend the right to not stop eating in order to pay fees," Hugo Yasky, a teacher, said adding that Argentine workers are preparing marches with candles and torches during the holiday period, starting on Jan.10 in Buenos Aires as well as the cities of Rosario, Mar del Plata and Mendoza.

"Argentina: big rate increase for the people and a 25% salary increase for Macri and his cabinet, which occurs in the middle of an economic crisis across the country. When shamelessness has no limits."

Macri's Administration announced a sharp increase in public service rates, for 2019, which obstructs purchasing power, in a country experiencing a major recession coupled with growing unemployment and an annual inflation rate of 50%.

"Let's take the complaint to the streets," a leader of one of the two wings of the Central de Trabajadores Argentinos (CTA), commented.

Argentine trade unionists also warned that they will reject "any attempt at labor flexibilization," which is one of the policies that the International Monetary Fund stipulated to the Macri Administration as a condition for granting a US$57-billion loan to the country.