Argentina CTA General Strike Protests Murder of Socialist Labor Activist

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Argentina CTA General Strike Protests Murder of Socialist Labor Activist Mariano Ferreyra and Shootings by Union Bureaucrat Thug

Argentina CTA General Strike Protests Murder of Socialist Labor Activist Mariano Ferreyra and Shootings by Union Bureaucrat Thugs
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/48816
24-hour strike called by CTA umbrella union
Thousands of activists march towards Plaza de Mayo to protest Mariano Ferreyra's death

The city and much of the country remain nearly paralyzed due to a strike called in protests to the death of 23-year old Mariano Ferreyra, who was shot in the chest and killed yesterday during a violent confrontation between railroad workers and members of the leftist Worker's Party (Partido Obrero). At the same time, subway workers are allowing passengers to ride for free while they consider going on full strike.

Subway and railroad union workers are currently taking measures to repudiate the murder of Mariano Ferreyra.

According to subway authorities, turnstiles were released after 3 pm, allowing for the free entry of passengers onto subway cars, although B Line spokesman Claudio Dellecarbonara said it was "very likely" all subway lines would go on strike. "We will make the announcement later in the day," he said.

At the same time, railroad union workers interrupted the Roca train line service at the Avellaneda station.

LAN airlines workers also went on strike after noon, for which no LAN flights were leaving from the Aeroparque Metropolitan Airport.

The Panamericana highway remained blocked by activists for over three hours this morning, who were protesting the young man's death.

A few minutes after 6 am, Kraft workers completely blocked the Panamericana in the General Pacheco area to protest the murder. Activists decided to lift the roadblock moments after 9:30 am.

The CTA Argentine Central Workers' umbrella union also called for all unions to join a 24-hour strike and a march to the Plaza de Mayo in protest of the incidents. “Due to the actions of the rail workers union, who in collusion with the Federal Police, attacked a demonstration of outsourced workers with firearms and killed Mariano Ferreyra, the CTA has decided to call a nationwide strike and a march to the Plaza de Mayo,” the union said in a statement, adding they intended to find those “directly responsible” for the murder and repeating that the march would begin at the intersection of Corrientes and Callao.

CTA leader Hugo Yasky insisted on the need to find the perpetrators of the crime, and said that nobody "should be looking the other way."

"There can't be any impunity," he said, and closed by stating that somebody "has to put a stop to union thugs."

Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández also reacted to yesterday's accusations by City Mayor Mauricio Macri, who blamed him for not intervening and stopping the clash in time. "The mayor is indicted over accusations of being involved in an illegal wiretappings case and he shouldn't even be in office," he said. He blasted him for "having the nerve to point fingers at government officials as if he were the most pristine of politicians, when his administration is a total failure."

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/48726
CTA umbrella union called for a general strike today
Union clash leaves one dead, activists stage protests across the City

Different left-wing party demonstrators marched through downtown Buenos Aires to the Constitución train station as a way of protesting the death of a young Partido Obrero militant, but a strong police operative prevented them from entering the station, where they had planned to stage a "symbolic takeover."

Led by the head of the left-wing Quebracho organization, Fernando Esteche, two hundred militants belonging to the former and to the Partido Obrero marched with flags and signs. Meanwhile, traffic in the City collapsed thanks to the different blocks staged by police during rush hour.

The goal of the police was to prevent demonstrators from entering the train station, and as part of the operative, hydrant trucks were made available to them.

The police barricades forced protestors to carry out their rally in Constitución square, in front of the station. This time, no incidents were registered.

Yesterday afternoon, a 23-year-old man died upon arriving at the Argerich Hospital, and a 56-year-old woman was gravely injured as a consequence of an attack attributed to members of the railway workers union, who clashed with former workers of the Roca Railway and leftist militants.

The young man, identified as Mariano Ferreyra, was a Partido Obrero militant, and was shot in the torax, while the woman, identified as Elsa Rodríguez, who belongs to the same organization, underwent surgery after being shot in the head and remains in critical condition.

The head of the SAME emergency medical assistance service, Alberto Crescenti, confirmed that the two injured, along with another young man shot twice in the leg, were taken to Argerich Hospital in a private ambulance. When Rodríguez arrived at the hospital, Crescenti assured: "The woman is agonizing." However, the young man who was shot in the leg was out of danger.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/BreakingNews/View/48776

Thursday, October 21, 2010 | 20:12 ETBUE, Temp 22º Humidity: 73%Edition Nº 2882
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After a day of tension in Barracas
Politicians repudiate violent railway union events, request 'thorough investigation'
The death of Mariano Ferreyra, a militant of the Partido Obrero, triggered the disavowal of different political, union, and social factions. PRO party members suspended a rally, the Senate issued a statement, and several lawmakers' blocs expressed their support. A kirchnerite sector linked the violent events with ex president Eduardo Duhalde.

The Federal Peronism national lawmakers bloc expressed their "strong disavowel towards the extreme violence that ended with the life of Mariano Ferreyra and left several injured," and it demanded the "reaction of all the sectors before the violence installed in the pre-election campaign, of which different political party leaders have been victims." The lawmakers highlighted that "we should react quickly before street gang activity continues with total impunity."

In the meantime, and boosted by senator Samuel Cabanchik (PROBAFE), the Upper House unanimously approved a draft declaration repudiating the serious events that took place in Barracas.

The senators expressed their condolences to the family members of the victims and demanded a "prompt clarification of the facts." "Situations like these go against a full rule of law that should guarantee the liberties of all citizens of the Republic," the declaration reads.

"I would like to express my disavowal of the violent incidents. The death of an Argentine in the hands of another Argentine awakens memories of a time we don't deserve to re-live," lawmaker Francisco de Narváez said. "We can't tolerate political violence, nor the insecurity levels we suffer," he finished.

On its part, PRO decided to postpone the party rally that was to take place on Wednesday due to the violent acts that occurred within the framework of an internal dispute in the railway union, which left one dead.

The rally was to be seen as a strong political move, since both Buenos Aires City Cabinet Chief, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, and PRO lawmaker Gabriela Michetti would make a public appearance together so as to undermine the conflict between them.

In the meantime, national lawmakers of the Nuevo Encuentro Popular y Solidario blocs expressed their "overwhelming repudiation towards the violent events that ended with the death of Mariano Ferreyra."

"It is imperative to thoroughly investigate the events and find those responsible so that this crime does not go unpunished," lawmakers Martín Sabbatella, Carlos Heller, Ariel Basteiro, Vilma Ibarra, and Jorge Rivas said via a communiqué.

On another note, lawmaker Francisco Nenna alluded to the meeting held between former president Eduardo Duhalde and the Railway Union leader, José Pedraza. "Duhalde met some time ago with José Pedraza, and today a gang charged against workers that were participating in a union dispute," he stated.

In this sense, the kirchnerite said: "It doesn't surprise me that a life should be taken in places where Duhalde hangs about."

Shooting protesters... at the same time there is a huge massive strike in France? As though they said ''see what will happen if you do the same''