With the electoral race underway, the Confederation of Industrial Unions of the Argentine Republic (CSIRA) sent signals to both the political and business leadership and warned that if these sectors “do not want to launch an industrial process, we will have to be the unions who come out to defend this model as we have to defend it”. In other words: if the current model is not deepened or another political color comes along that does not favor the sector, they will respond with protests sooner rather than later.
Among the main points are the defense of workers’ income, noting that “wages do not affect inflation”, they rejected the taking of debt through the International Monetary Fund (IMF), they demanded the generation of employment through training and the defense, conservation and enhancement of natural resources. Union spokesmen told iProfessional that “without an industrial model, Argentina is unfeasible.”
The organization presented a document prepared by the 33 unions that make it up, plus the participation of national universities and technical teams, and aims at a productive and social agreement that turns the industry into State policy and transcends governments.
“Without industry there is no growth”: the warning of the unions to businessmen
The “Proposal for an industrial, productive and social agreement 2023″ consists of 15 guiding principles to advance an understanding between unions and companies to “consolidate the course towards industrial Argentina with employment, promoting stable public policies for the sector and generating in society the awareness that without industry there will be no economic development and social peace,” they said.
The formal presentation was made in Mar del Plata, headed by the head of the CSIRA, Ricardo Pignanelli, together with the main references of the space. The also General Secretary of the Mechanics Union (SMATA) assured that “we are going to invite all the businessmen who still believe that Argentina is rising” and added: “We promote the culture of work, not speculation.”
He also announced that they are “going to invite the different players in the industry to participate to help consolidate this and in October, when the (presidential) candidates are there, we are going to ask them that this is what we want for our Argentina.”
After a meeting, the industry unions suggested a 15-axis work plan to the Government and businessmen.
As a special guest was the Secretary of Industry and Productive Development, José Ignacio de Mendiguren, who He highlighted the importance of the “alliance with the unions, the businessmen who want to invest and the workers who want to produce” for the growth of Argentina.
Industry unions do not rule out massive protests
Pignanelli warned that “if this proposal, which will be agreed upon by the workers and employers, does not want to implement it, we will have to be the industrial unions capable of defending this as we have to defend it”. The meeting was attended by Abel Furlán (metallurgical, UOM), Juan Speroni (Naval Workers), Hugo Benítez (textiles, AOT), the Buenos Aires Minister of Labor, Walter Correa, and the adviser and former Minister of Agriculture Julián Domínguez.
Under the idea of transforming the proposal into a “road guide for the political leadership”, the Confederation highlighted the guiding principles and a work agenda as the basis of a Strategic Agreement for the Development of Industry, Agriculture and Biotechnology Argentina 2030 .
1. National industrial development model based on work culture: Integration of Argentine production through the development of all its value chains.
2. Natural resources and value chains at source. “Due to the importance of the Argentine industry and the abundance of natural resources, we demand that the National Congress a land use law that has the support of the Provincial Legislatures, in which production, the use of land and water are prioritized”.
3. Industrialization and energy transition: Generating a new energy matrix using renewable sourcesas envisaged by the Argentine Federation of Oil, Gas and Biofuels Trade Unions (FASiPeGyBIO).
From the industrial unions, they assured that if their sector is not prioritized, they will come out to defend it.
4. Disseminated Inputs: The creation of an Institute of Disseminated Inputs is proposed, an institution from which the State guarantees and arbitrates competitive prices for the internal market
5. Industry and new technologies: retain employment and reconvert it to jobs linked to the new modalities of production, as well as promoting the export of technological developments.
6. Wages do not affect inflation: “It is relevant to highlight this incidence to counteract the incomprehensible intentions of producing labor reforms, with the false argument that labor cost makes industrial products more expensive”.
7. Education: Training and technical-professional training. Promote a Vocational Training System for Industry, Agriculture and Argentine Biotechnology, which fosters a focus on future work centered on people, taking advantage of the potential of technology and natural resources.
8. Argentine infrastructure and logistics: Support for the promotion of the Magdalena Canal. “Argentina needs to define its logistics strategy and carry out its exports and imports directly from national ports, without delegating its connection abroad through other countries.”
9. Global political positioning for the defense of work. “We believe and we defend MERCOSUR as our historical and economic space conducive to promoting production and employment”.
10. Borrowing: “We reject the taking of foreign debt to finance the speculative business that paralyzes the possibilities of national development.”
11. Bi-monetary economy: crisis in production and financing. The application and full regulation of the laws of Defense of Competition, Defense of the Consumer and the implementation of the Tribunal for the Defense of Competition are required, in accordance with what is established in the National Constitution and that the means to arbitrate strengthen control by the Ministry of Commerce.
12. The health of working people. We demand that the funds that workers contribute to social projects be transferred immediately to the unions, so as not to affect the provision of services.
13. New challenges: gender, diversities and violence.
14. Urban development and housing.
15. Predictability. “You need to have a independent judiciary and with a system of regulation and control norms that know the productive realities and natural resources of all the regions of Argentina. This predictability is a basic tool to boost investment and growth in the country.”
