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| Argentina strike: Transport hit by second major walkout | Argentina strike: Transport hit by second major walkout |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A major transport strike in Argentina has brought parts of the country to a standstill as unions protest against high taxes and inflation. | A major transport strike in Argentina has brought parts of the country to a standstill as unions protest against high taxes and inflation. |
| The 24-hour walkout - the second in three months - affects bus, train, plane and underground services. | The 24-hour walkout - the second in three months - affects bus, train, plane and underground services. |
| The previous strike shut down swathes of the capital Buenos Aires after people were unable to reach their jobs. | The previous strike shut down swathes of the capital Buenos Aires after people were unable to reach their jobs. |
| The country's powerful transport unions are unhappy with the income tax floor and high inflation in the country. | The country's powerful transport unions are unhappy with the income tax floor and high inflation in the country. |
| Tuesday's strike is also expected to disrupt waste collection, freight transport and port activity after a number of smaller unions joined the protest. | |
| The Argentine Workers' Central Union staged a demonstration in Buenos Aires on Monday ahead of the strike. | |
| The previous strike on 31 March saw protesters block the city's Pueyrredon Bridge and forced businesses and schools to close for the day. | The previous strike on 31 March saw protesters block the city's Pueyrredon Bridge and forced businesses and schools to close for the day. |
| Inflation threat | Inflation threat |
| Official figures put inflation in Argentina at 24% last year but private estimates reckon it was closer to 40%. On Friday the value of the Argentine peso declined to a record low of nine per US dollar. | Official figures put inflation in Argentina at 24% last year but private estimates reckon it was closer to 40%. On Friday the value of the Argentine peso declined to a record low of nine per US dollar. |
| Union leaders say that wage increases designed to keep pace with the country's weakening currency threaten to push many workers above the minimum tax threshold and they are demanding the government reduce taxes to help them. | Union leaders say that wage increases designed to keep pace with the country's weakening currency threaten to push many workers above the minimum tax threshold and they are demanding the government reduce taxes to help them. |
| The trade union movement in Argentina is divided into those who back the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and those who think it is not doing enough to help workers. | The trade union movement in Argentina is divided into those who back the government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and those who think it is not doing enough to help workers. |
| The transport unions - among the most powerful labour unions in the country - are divided among themselves over support of the government. | The transport unions - among the most powerful labour unions in the country - are divided among themselves over support of the government. |