Argentines demand approval of bill to combat hunger as patron saint of labour is honoured

Record ID: 905494

  • Title: Argentines demand approval of bill to combat hunger as patron saint of labour is honoured
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (AUGUST 7, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE SELLING FLOWERS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH OF SAINT CAYETANO CROSS ON CHURCH STEEPLE PERSON HOLDING ARMFUL OF RELIGIOUS SOUVENIRS PRIEST BLESSING PERSON PERSON HOLDING RELIGIOUS ITEMS IN HAND FAITHFUL IN PROCESSION FEET MARCHING FAITHFUL IN PROCESSION RELIGIOUS STATUE OF CAYETANO HOLDING BABY JESUS WOMAN PRAYING HANDS ON FLOWERS WOMEN PRAYING TO SAINT CAYETANO WOMAN HOLDING LIT CANDLE AND STATUE OF SAINT CAYETANO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WOMAN WHO COMES TO SAINT CAYETANO PROCESSION EVERY YEAR, ANDREA FLORENTINO, SAYING: "It is a tremendous emotion what I feel for him (Saint Cayetano) and for this reason, I come every year when I can, with a cane because my legs don't do much. Because this is the greatest, the greatest." GENERAL VIEW OF MARCH OF WORKERS FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS MARCHING FROM THE CHURCH TO THE PLAZA DE MAYO MARCH WITH BANNER READING "CCC" "CURRENT, CLASSIST, COMBATIVE" PEOPLE MARCHING WITH FLAGS PEOPLE MARCHING WITH BANNERS PEOPLE MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL GROUP "CCC", JUAN CARLOS ALDERETE, SAYING: "No matter how much the government wants us to believe we are going to a meeting of happiness (procession to honour Saint Cayetano), we are going to a meeting of happiness for some who continue to benefit from these policies. The fact that jobs are being created is a complete lie, it's false because in certain lines of production work; we started having some movement but in 90 percent of production branches in Argentina, we all know there have been dismissals, suspensions and that small companies have closed because they are unable to compete with imported goods." YOUNGSTERS CARRYING STATUE OF VIRGIN ON SHOULDERS GENERAL VIEW OF MARCH WITH BANNERS PEOPLE MOVING ALONG STREET DURING MARCH VARIOUS OF MARCH
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 17:16
  • Keywords: Saint Cayetano march workers labour pilgrimage church saint
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016T5SABN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: On Monday (August 7), thousands of Argentines honoured the patron saint of labour Saint Cayetano with a march demanding the approval of a bill looking to declare a food emergency, to battle rising hunger in the country, local media reported.
    Labour unions and progressive groups organised the march under the slogan, "bread, peace, land, housing and work," and also demanded a change in policies to increase jobs.
    Argentine President Mauricio Macri is racing to cut the country's famously high labour costs in a bid to increase foreign investment, risking a confrontation with powerful unions before congressional elections later this year.
    Unions in Argentina are used to tough negotiations and they are not shy about picketing, blocking roads or going on strike in the pursuit of pay packages that workers rely on to keep up with inflation clocked at around 40 percent last year.
    Meanwhile, thousands of faithful made the annual pilgrimage to the San Cayetano Roman Catholic church in the working-class Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Liniers. It is a tradition, including masses on the hour, that began in Argentina in 1970. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich criticised unions for turning a religious event into a political one, local media reported.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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