News

On May 6th, IBM workers participated in several activities to denounce their situation inside the company:



Low wages, and salary rises between 0 and 3% for last year's Labour fraud, with over 60% of the employees being outsourced. This is the result of the anti-union policy that the company has put in practice since it's conception.



Next, a brief account of the activities realized this week. For further detail, click here.

President Cristina Férnandez visit to IBM-Olivos III building



On may 6th at midday, a group of union delegates were present during the visit of the president of Argentina, Cristina Fernández, to IBM building. They gave her personally a present and a letter detailing the working conditions at the company.



The company tried to to avoid any kind of union event but trade unionists were present with banners and flags.



Union Freedom and democracy march



Cepetel was present at the CTA-summoned march to the National Congress, in which over 15'000 workers showed their unbreakable will for union freedom and democracy. Trade unions once again stated their autonomy from employers, governments and political parties. The march, summoned under the motto “In Argentina we are not all equal”, happened while an experts' commission of the International Labour Organization was visiting the country. Unions took their banners and flags together with workers that were claiming for the right to unionize and defend worker's rights.



Protest in IBM Cordoba



On the IBM Cordoba site, workers expressed their demands by making a car caravan, blowing their horns and waving flags and banners to condemn the labour and salary conditions in the company. Also present at the demonstration were CTA authorities, press workers of the Cispren union, tire workers, and Telecom workers unionized in Cepetel. The protest began with the tech support department and their cars, whom expressed their demands via a loudspeaker. Also, flyers were given to people passing by and coming in or out of the building.



Cepetel in the National Congress



At the end of the Union Freedom and Democracy Demonstration, a public audience took place in the Deputies' chamber of the congress to present a project for a new Union law and to demand official recognition for the CTA. Unions assisted to the presentation of this proposed new legislation, which would guarantee unionized workers the protection they need to fight for their rights and avoid firings and sanctions by the companies.



Unions received a copy of the resolution in which the chamber expresses his concern for the workers' situation at IBM Argentina. Cepetel was informed that the resolution has been signed by seven deputies and is now being debated at the workers' legislation committee.



Assembly at Uzal building



In the IBM-Uzal building in Olivos, an assembly took place on May 7th, in which the problems of the “proyecto dali” and “velazquez” workers were dealt with. This was the second time that a meeting was held in this building. More than 15 workers signed up for the union and expressed their will for decent wages and the termination of outsourced contracts. Other working conditions, like night shifts and overtime hours were discussed as well.



Future activities



Thursday, may 13th – 18hs: Meeting at IBM Catalinas. All IBM workers are invited to join as well as all of those trade unions, social organizations and people who are sympathetic with the union's demands.



Saturday, may 15th – Awareness raising day in Rosario: flyers' distribution to expose the current situation of IBM workers.