The protest and the police standoff
A group of bus drivers demonstrated this Friday at the junction of Bartolomé Mitre and Montes de Oca avenues in Avellaneda, in the southern part of Greater Buenos Aires. The workers want to march to Puente Pueyrredón to present their demands, but police officers deployed at the scene are stopping them from advancing. The delegates are leading the claim, and the intention was to block traffic at the bridge, which has produced a standoff with the security forces.[S1][S2][S3]
The same demand could produce a similar action on the Panamericana highway, at another point in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, involving other lines. For now the measure involves only some drivers from the companies concerned, but it could grow into a full strike. Some lines also report that wages have not been paid even though the fourth business day has passed.[S1]
Which bus lines are affected
The lines affected by the protest are 9, 28, 32, 33, 34, 57, 60, 96, 99, 103, 119, 159, 164, 188, 216, 338, 527 and 620. The drivers are demanding a salary increase and improvements in their working conditions.[S1][S2][S3]
The drivers' demands and the wage talks
In a statement, the drivers described the transport wage negotiations as going round in circles. They said employers had offered 1.2 percent, equivalent to 20,000 pesos, and argued that the workers cannot wait any longer. Their demands include an urgent salary increase, a basic salary set at 3,500,000 pesos, payment of the travel allowance by the fourth business day, and the employer again covering the cost of the medical examinations.[S2]
Holiday transport arrangements
Because of activities scheduled in the City of Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, public transport will adjust its timetables to make it easier for people to arrive at and leave mass gathering points such as Palermo and the square at the Luján Basilica. National-jurisdiction bus lines will run on a weekday schedule from 18:00 on Sunday, November 8, until the night of Wednesday, November 11.[S1]
The Sarmiento, San Martín, Mitre, Roca, Belgrano Sur, Belgrano Norte and Urquiza train lines will operate with weekday frequencies between Monday, November 9, and Wednesday, November 11, despite the public holidays. They will also offer special services from 00:00 on Monday, November 9, throughout the early hours, with additional reinforcements on the night of Tuesday, November 10, and in the early hours of Wednesday, November 11.[S1]
