Latinnews Daily - 13 February 2018 |
Argentina’s Macri winning trade union tussle with Moyanos |
Development: On 12 February, Luis Barrionuevo became the latest of Argentina’s most powerful trade union leaders to distance himself from the general strike being organised by Hugo and Pablo Moyano for 21 February. Significance: Barrionuevo’s decision to come out against the general strike is a coup for President Mauricio Macri. It was Barrionuevo, the leader of the union of tourism, hotel, and restaurant workers (UTHGRA), who had issued a stark warning to Macri last month not to “twist the lion’s tail”, pointing out that previous presidents who had attacked the country’s trade unions had failed to finish their terms. Barrionuevo was referring to the unprecedented surge in arrests of union leaders accused of corruption. That he has not seen fit to rally to the side of the Moyanos, who stand accused of money laundering, is telling.
Looking Ahead: The Macri administration looks like reaping the reward of its divide and rule tactics. In a clear indication that he is feeling cornered, Hugo Moyano lashed out yesterday at what he described as “a CGT subordinated” to the government. |