Residents of Buenos Aires are currently facing the consequences of a conflict that has little to do with waste collection. The regulated work conditions imposed by the Truck Drivers’ Union (Sindicato de Camioneros) reflect their discontent resulting from the cancellation of a pre-adjudication for the towing system in the city. This recent decision by Mayor Jorge Macri’s administration has sparked controversy, as it involves a significant financial stake of approximately $360 million that was intended for three companies to manage towing services over a ten-year period.
The withdrawal of this lucrative contract, which Macri deemed “excessively expensive” and “scandalous,” prompted protests from the Moyano family, a prominent force within the union. However, the job security of the 310 workers in the towing sector remains intact. Since September 2022, these employees transitioned to SBASE, a public entity in the city, retaining their positions under the same labor agreement with the union after receiving severance packages of up to 4 million pesos from their previous employers, Dakota and BRD.
A senior official from the city’s government expressed concerns to Infobae, suggesting that the union’s push for a contract award reveals a deeper connection between the union and at least one of the companies initially considered in the bidding process. The official indicated that this protest was a strategy to exert pressure.
Before the recent strike, the city’s government was optimistic, reporting a 90% compliance rate in waste collection services, which peaked at 95% the previous Friday. However, the onset of regulated work practices this Sunday has caused that figure to plummet to just 35%. This drop coincided with a meeting where city officials announced to three companies that the contract would be cancelled.
In a related statement to a radio station, Jorge Macri noted that there is no issue with the waste management union, attributing any failures in service to the companies involved. He added that the truck drivers’ union seems to be pressuring in areas they perceive as sensitive, despite assurances made by the government regarding job security for the truck drivers.
The union’s push appears unjustified, as these workers already possess stable employment thanks to recent negotiations between the city government, the three companies involved in the pre-adjudication, and union leaders. The government emphasized that they offered improvements to workers’ conditions during these discussions, but the protesters chose to intensify their demonstrations, knowing it would provoke public irritation.
The city’s Cabinet Chief, Néstor Grindetti, spearheaded negotiations that ultimately failed to secure a better deal. The decision was made to cancel the pre-adjudication, allowing the same work conditions for the 310 towing workers to continue. According to insiders close to Jorge Macri, it was made clear that it would have been detrimental to endorse the pre-adjudication, with warnings that doing so could lead to serious consequences.
Facundo Del Gaiso, a city deputy from the Civic Coalition, supported Jorge Macri’s decision, suggesting that the protests were less about protecting jobs and more about preserving business interests linked to the towing contracts. Allegations have surfaced that the Moyano family has vested interests in companies like Ashira, which operate waste removal under regulated agreements, fearing financial losses should the towing contract falter.
Del Gaiso also announced plans to file a criminal complaint for extortion against union leaders, stressing that the city administration would not tolerate any forms of intimidation. Following the cancellation of the towing contract, the government is now looking to negotiate with the union to either retain the workers within SBASE or transfer them to municipal services, while ensuring their union affiliation remains unchanged.
The union has requested that Clara Muzzio, the Deputy Mayor known for her rapport with the Moyano family, be included in negotiations. So far, discussions have been tense, led by Grindetti and the union’s Secretary of Labor, Marcelo Aparicio. Interestingly, Grindetti, who holds a leadership position at Club Independiente, has a history of legal accusations against Hugo Moyano, making the negotiations even more delicate.
The current administration is contemplating the establishment of an operational unit within the city’s Transit Authority to manage towing more effectively. Plans might include the introduction of ten new tow trucks to enhance service provision. Officials have indicated that they will take their time this semester to evaluate the best path forward, keeping open the possibility of reviving the bidding process under different, more favorable conditions.
Amid these events, suspicions regarding the connections between the Truck Drivers’ Union and certain companies in the pre-adjudication have emerged. It is accused of unusually awarding the contract just one day before Jorge Macri took office. The pre-adjudication, which was documented on December 11, raised eyebrows for its timing and terms, with the city now claiming it could fulfill the service at nearly half the cost.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/politica/2024/07/22/que-hay-detras-del-conflicto-por-la-basura-en-caba-sospechas-presiones-sindicales-y-un-negocio-de-360-millones-de-dolares/
