Telecom Workers Continue Strikes

Employees of Telefónica de Argentina that belong to Buenos Aires-based telecommunications union Foetra began a 72-hour strike Wednesday (Jul 25) after rejecting the company's proposed salary increase, local newspaper Infobae.

Last Saturday, Foetra members working for rival operator Telecom Argentina accepted a pay increase putting an end to strike action.

Telecom offered a 16.5% hike to take immediate effect and an additional 5% applicable from March 2008, Foetra press officer Silvia Hidalgo told BNamericas.

"Telefónica has made an offer which is pretty different from the one made by Telecom. Telefónica is now offering a 11% increase and another increase of 5% in March," Hidalgo said.

Telecommunications unions, which have been asking for a 25% wage increase, last month carried out three 48-hour strikes (Jun 12-13, 20-21 and 27-28) as well as one 72-hour strike on July 11-13 and a five-day strike on July 16-20.

Over the last few weeks, telecommunications employees have been working to rule (doing the minimum legally required), which is affecting operations, long distance interconnection and customer support services."

Posted to the site on 27th July 2007