The operation of the public transport service is once again in suspense. Jorge Berretta , vice president of the Tucuman Association of Automotive Transport Entrepreneurs (Aetat), assured that April will be a deadline month, where it will be impossible to meet 100% of the drivers’ salaries. Given this, the Union Tranviarios Automotor (UTA) reported that it will wait until Wednesday, the date on which the deadline for the deposit of salaries expires, to analyze what measures to adopt.
“They did not officially communicate anything to us, we learned about this situation through media statements,” said UTA Secretary General César González .
In dialogue with LA GACETA, the union leader assured that it is urgent to seek alternative solutions for the sector because every month “and in an agonizing way” this discussion is generated. “There is a constant uncertainty about whether the drivers will charge for their work or not,” said the referent. And he added: “the sector is going through a complex and difficult situation. The issue of the tariff fell, diesel increased and that complicates the activity in general and the payment of salaries ”.
The payroll for the 3,600 workers in the sector, including social charges, is around $ 360 million. On this, the UTA detailed that the gross salaries of the workers range between $ 67,000 and $ 81,000, depending on the seniority.
In the Municipality they view the situation with concern and agreed on the need to redefine the system to guarantee residents of the city the possibility of moving without inconvenience.
“It is difficult to project public transport over time due to the pandemic. If we take measurements before the pandemic, we had numbers that later changed notably and are worrying, “said the Secretary of Government, Rodolfo Ocaranza , and announced that in the event of an eventual measure of force, the Municipality will temporarily have private combis to supply the service and guarantee mobility.