ARGENTINA: METALLURGICAL WORKERS RALLY IN BUENOS AIRES TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT PERON'S POLICY OF INCREASED WAGES.

Record ID: 214976

  • Title: ARGENTINA: METALLURGICAL WORKERS RALLY IN BUENOS AIRES TO DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT PERON'S POLICY OF INCREASED WAGES.
  • Date: 26th June 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN Large crowd in Plaza de Mayo 0.08 2. SV President Peron on balcony 0.16 3. SV Crowd chanting and waving to Peron (2 shots) 0.29 4. CU PAN Government official and Peron on balcony 0.38 5. LV Crowd on lamp standard 0.46 6. SV ZOOM OUT FROM Soldier on armoured car TO crowd cheering 0.56 7. SV Armed troops among crowd
  • Embargoed: 11th July 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Reuters ID: LVA42JJW6G9HCJYM8Y5R83N7CCHH
  • Story Text: The important Union of Metallurgical Workers showed its support for Argentina's President Maria Estela Peron on Tuesday (24 June) when workers gathered in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, the capital, to shout their satisfaction with recently negotiated pay rises.

    The show of support comes at a time when many union members in the country are bitter over new economic policies which have triggered massive increases in prices.

    In an effort to counter runaway inflation, running at 80 per cent this year, the newly appointed Economy Minister Calestino Rodrigo devalued the peso by 50 per cent and removed controls on many prices, including those on petrol and public transportation.

    Following a long period of price controls, the sudden relaxation triggered a wave of price increases which have eroded the value of he average worker's take home pay. Petrol prices trebled, gas and electricity rates doubled and transportation costs jumped as much as 140 per cent.

    The response by unions was to demand pay rises of as much as 100 per cent. This conflicted with previous government goals but, to soothe the angry union movement. President Peron promised increases of 65 per cent in the minimum wage. Many unions saw this as the guideline that would be applied to them as well.

    The metallurgical workers, headed by Richardo Otero, who serves as Minister of Labour in President Peron's cabinet, have given the first loud, favourable response to the President's wage plan. It comes after days of strikes, protest marches and occasional violence.

    President Peron, who addressed the demonstrating workers in the Plaza de Mayo, has said that Argentina was a "sick" country and that drastic economic measures were essential to combat inflation.

    Senor Rodrigo has said, "My policies will either work or they will kill me."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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