UIA-Gov't truce: Time heals everything

By Sergio Dattilo

The Argentine Industrial Union Executive Committee is to meet today with absolutely certainty that the Congress will not pass the draft bill submitted by Victory Front Deputy Héctor Recalde, which proposed including workers participation in company profits. Also, the worst is over as far as the relation with the government goes.

Thus, local industrial leaders and members of the Argentine Business Association (AEA) decided to cancel the public photo session they were to share at UIA's headquarters.

The Argentine Industrial Union considers the profit distribution scheme was just an experiment that could never be conducted. A top official at the organization admitted UIA overreacted to Recalde's proposal and the public statements released by unionists Hugo Moyano and Julio Piumato.

Communiqué

However, this source also admitted that UIA failed to show a different reaction: somehow, if the Argentine Industrial Union hadn't strongly objected the proposal, it would have looked like a validation. Both the communiqué released on Tuesday - urging the remaining sectors in the local economy to equal wages, allocating 70 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to workers- and a latter official statement rejecting an alleged social agreement with the CGT Labour Confederation. For the first time in months, the Argentine Industrial Union adopted an inflexible stance towards a Kirchnerite proposal.

The Argentine Industrial Union Executive Committee is also to debate the organization chart to be implemented in the next Industrial Conference, which is scheduled to be led by Federico Nicholson (agricultural/industrial company Ledesma).



Rapprochement

A presidential attendance to the above-mentioned conference -even though when Cristina de Kirchner might criticize industrial leaders- would represent a rapprochement between the Argentine Industrial Union and the Kirchnerite administration. Guillermo Moreno, Jorge Sorabilla (textile sector) and especially former UIA head Juan Carlos Lascurain (steel workers' union) are working in order to achieve this goal.

By the time the attendance of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to the Industrial Conference is finally confirmed, the list of participants will be closed. The organizing committee will try to avoid speeches that might upset the government and hamper the presidential attendance. But the UIA members know they are a long way from November 19.



Translated by Jimena Gibert