Tomada wants to analyze subway conflict

The Labour Minister met with representatives from the subway workers' union, who asked for the recognition of a new union's legitimacy. The meeting's goal was to work out an agreement with regards to the syndicate conflict, which may once again cut off weekly subway services.

Sources from the Labour Ministry said to the press that they hope that "a new phase has begun to continue the dialogue that was interrupted previously.," with subway employees who want their own union, separate from the UTA.

"Tomada's intention is to discuss one on one with the employee representatives the different aspects of the conflict," referring to the UTA, Metrovías and the current administration, according to sources.

The head of the subway union, Néstor Segovia, said that "the most important thing is to go back to dialogue," after the meeting at the Ministry.

Sources from the Labour Ministry said that "the decisions taken should not be pressured. The round of dialogue will take place in a way that will not affect the subway transportation services."

In addition, the sources added that Minister Carlos Tomada will meet again with union representatives in the next ten days, and said that the Ministry will not reveal what the agreement states "out of respect to the employees."

"Tomada will evaluate, and we will discuss the issue among ourselves," said Segovia later on, making it clear that "our coworkers will be consulted. We cannot say what the proposal is."

"I do not know if it is a truce; we will consult with everyone involved and then we will see how to proceed," he said.

"The most important thing is to continue dialoguing and I do not have the power to say whether or not we will lead another strike," said Segovia in reference to the possibility of subway employees paralyzing the transportation system for 48 hours.

"We have a lot of proposals, but the number one petition is to be recognized as a separate union entity," he said.

Union members leading the claims, who call themselves delegates of the subway system, ratified their petition for members of the Ministry to legalize the AGTSyP subway union association in a press conference.

Segovia had previously said that "a new phase has begun in Argentina because day by day more employees are asking for union democratization."

That is why, he said, "we will once again ask the Labour Minister Carlos Tomada" for legalization.

The claims made by employees are widely rejected by the UTA transport association, led by CGT union member Roberto Fernández. The UTA association is the organization as of now recognized by the national government and by the Metrovías company as legitimate.

The UTA association gave a press release in which "the illegitimate divisive pretensions" were discarded.

CGT head Hugo Moyano also questioned the union's claims, saying that it is time to discuss the idea of everyone having "one single union" body.

Representaive for the E subway line, Roberto Pianelli, said that the employees "have always been open to dialogue," during declarations made to a national news agency.

Segovia, on the other hand, said that "the Ministry has the key to resolve this conflicto, and we will reitérate our petition," adding that "we hope that this time we can begin to look for solutions."