In the afternoon of
Monday, May 4, members of the Union of
Tourism, Hotel and Food Service Workers
of Argentina (UTHGRA) who were
protesting in front of the Hotel and
Food Business Chamber were surprised by
riot police who came down violently on
them, leaving 17 hurt –including one
seriously injured– and 60 arrested.
For several weeks now negotiations
between UTHGRA and the food and
hotel business sector have been at a
standstill. Among other demands, the
Union is asking for a 30-percent
increase, while management seeks to
postpone any raises for another six
months. They argue that the global
economic crisis is severely affecting
business and that they need that time to
see how things evolve in the sector.
The truth is that the raise that workers
demand is barely enough to cover past
inflation, as the rates and prices
applied by businesses have accompanied
inflation and, in some cases, even
topped it.
UTHGRA
decided to conduct two rallies on Monday
the 4th, fully aware that
mobilizing workers in the streets is the
most effective way they have to express
the workers’ resolve and willingness to
struggle.
In the morning, the Union gathered in
front of the Hotel Sheraton in
Buenos Aires to rally peacefully as
usual, and no incidents occurred.
However, several union leaders pointed
out that they were surprised to see a
larger police contingent than in past
rallies.
In the afternoon, workers gathered to
protest in front of the Cámara
Empresarial de Hoteleros y Gastronómicos
(Hotel and Food Business Chamber), where
they were repressed by riot police who
attacked them with chemical-spraying
riot-control vehicles, teargas, rubber
bullets and random clubbing.
Seventeen workers were injured, with
several of them being taken to nearby
hospitals for treatment. One worker
remains hospitalized as he was hit in
the eye with a rubber bullet and his
condition is still delicate. The police
also arrested 60 protesters, none of
which remain in custody as the courts
found no grounds to charge them.
Consulted at UTHGRA headquarters,
union representatives could find no
explanation for this savage repression,
but are seeing it as something
“prepared.” In statements to the press,
UTHGRA leader Luis Barrionuevo
accused the Minister of Interior and
Justice of “serving the government’s
insanity.”
Government authorities, for their part,
have yet to give any explanation for
this outrageous action.
UTHGRA
will continue mobilizing, and has called
on the general secretaries of all its
divisions to move forward with their
plan of action until their demands are
met.
