Amidst the imminent strike affecting millions of users, the Argentine News Agency has prepared a guide with the 10 essential questions and answers to understand the scope of the train strike for this Thursday. Is the train strike for Thursday, February 5th confirmed? Yes, the strike is still on. The La Fraternidad union ratified the measure on Wednesday after failing to reach a salary agreement with the Government. How long will the service interruption last? The strike will last 24 hours. It will begin at 00:00 on Thursday, February 5th, and will extend throughout the day. Which train lines will be affected? The strike will affect the entirety of the national railway transport. This includes all short and long-distance lines of Trenes Argentinos Pasajeros, as well as the operators Metrovías S.A. and Ferrovías SAC. Does the strike also affect freight transport? Yes. In addition to passenger trains, the service of Belgrano Cargas S.A. will be paralyzed, which includes the Belgrano, Urquiza, and San Martín lines. What is the main reason for the union's demands? The plan of action is based on two axes: an urgent salary claim and denouncements about the critical state of railway infrastructure. What salary loss is the union denouncing? The general secretary of La Fraternidad, Omar Maturano, stated that since the current Government took office, drivers have lost 56% of their purchasing power due to inflation. What was the Government's offer that they rejected? The last proposal from the companies consisted of a 2% increase for December (against an inflation of 2.8%) and smaller increases for January, February, and March. The union described this offer as 'crude' and 'insufficient'. What are they denouncing regarding safety? The union warns of a 'lack of security and neglect' due to the poor condition of the tracks and rolling stock. They point out that this forces a reduction in speed and causes 'three derailments daily' in cargo trains. Is there any possibility that the strike will be called off? Yes, the possibility remains if the Government dictates mandatory conciliation. From the union, they anticipated that, if said resolution is dictated, they will comply with the order and lift the measure. When will trains return to normal operation? It is expected that railway services will resume their usual schedule from midnight on Friday, February 6th, once the 24-hour strike period has ended.
