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11 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 23/2002
Argentinian energy workers are at the forefront of a new movement to bring the country's energy resources back under national control. Opposing the recent privatisations in the sector is the brand-new campaigning organisation MORENO, which is led by the Argentine energy union federation FeTERA.
MORENO was launched at a demonstration in Buenos Aires on 17 May. FeTERA local unions from all over Argentina took part, together with other unions, political parties, the association of small and medium-scale businesses and pensioners' groups. Speakers at the rally called for the recovery of the nation's energy resources. In particular, they demanded a social electricity tariff, arguing that "energy is a social good and a basic human right".
On this point, they scored a first regional victory just a few hours before the demonstration began. The province of Buenos Aires enacted a local law that brings in a social power tariff. This will mean a 50 percent cut in electricity charges for those who qualify. In its campaign against energy privatisation, FeTERA has pursued a policy of outreach to the wider community. It is now carrying the debate on a social tariff to the national parliament.
"Argentina's best chance of getting out of the crisis is to recover the economic resources that produce energy," FeTERA General Secretary José Rigane told the demonstrators outside the offices of oil multinational Repsol-YPF. Repsol acquired the Argentinian company YPF in 1999.
At the global level, FeTERA is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). Representing the ICEM at the rally was its Regional Secretary Renato Martins. He was warmly applauded by the demonstrators, who called for Argentinian and Brazilian workers to unite in opposition to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
MORENO was launched at a demonstration in Buenos Aires on 17 May. FeTERA local unions from all over Argentina took part, together with other unions, political parties, the association of small and medium-scale businesses and pensioners' groups. Speakers at the rally called for the recovery of the nation's energy resources. In particular, they demanded a social electricity tariff, arguing that "energy is a social good and a basic human right".
On this point, they scored a first regional victory just a few hours before the demonstration began. The province of Buenos Aires enacted a local law that brings in a social power tariff. This will mean a 50 percent cut in electricity charges for those who qualify. In its campaign against energy privatisation, FeTERA has pursued a policy of outreach to the wider community. It is now carrying the debate on a social tariff to the national parliament.
"Argentina's best chance of getting out of the crisis is to recover the economic resources that produce energy," FeTERA General Secretary José Rigane told the demonstrators outside the offices of oil multinational Repsol-YPF. Repsol acquired the Argentinian company YPF in 1999.
At the global level, FeTERA is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). Representing the ICEM at the rally was its Regional Secretary Renato Martins. He was warmly applauded by the demonstrators, who called for Argentinian and Brazilian workers to unite in opposition to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).