Buenos Aires, February 23 (NA) – Following another unfruitful meeting where the representative of the Undersecretariat for Development and Modernization of Public Employment was absent and no formal salary proposal was made, the Argentine Republic Road Workers and Affiliated Union (STVyARA), led by Graciela Aleñá, announced it continues in a state of alert. Road workers have had their salaries frozen since October 2024, as confirmed by the Argentine News Agency. In this context, and in the face of a "new chapter of neglect" by the DNV authorities, STVyARA recalled that the salary freeze, which has already lasted for over a year, "has plunged about 2,900 workers from this National Directorate below the poverty line." Regarding the measures taken in this regard by the National Directorate of Roads (DNV), the union stated that "they intend to continue delaying the collective bargaining process while advancing with austerity measures and voluntary retirements." Obstruction to collective bargaining Aleñá launched harsh criticisms at the DNV for its obstructive actions in the collective bargaining process. "Subjecting road workers to live below the poverty line and not receiving a salary adjustment, despite the out-of-control inflationary process that has reached 50% in these sixteen months, with the sole objective of carrying out a cheaper restructuring process," she denounced. The union leader made it clear that, in response to the DNV Administration's request to continue negotiations after the voluntary retirement program ends, the union will not give up the percentage of loss of purchasing power that workers have suffered. "We are not going to renounce anything. We demand a salary readjustment that covers from November 2024 to the month in which the bargaining is negotiated. The food rights of workers and their families are heavily indebted with the sole objective of guaranteeing their minimum daily caloric intake," she concluded. A week ago, the union organization also denounced a "deliberate, silent, and public debate-free process of emptying the state, with the National Directorate of Roads (DNV) as a case in point," based on the new organizational structure promoted by the administration of Javier Milei, designed under the guidelines of Minister Federico Sturzenegger.
