The floating casinos in the port of Buenos Aires are used to closure in the continuing battle over jurisdiction - closed by one judge, they are opened by another. However, this time the dispute is over union representation and the doors have remained shut far longer. The conflict started on 3 May and the casino workers have not been receiving wages. Nearly 90% are represented by the union known by its initials ALEARA, but the union of ship workers, SOMU, is demanding that it should represent all 2,000 workers employed on the casino ships docked at Puerto Madero.

On Tuesday demonstrators clashed with police when trying to set up a soup kitchen. 11 arrests were made although all were released later. Yesterday around 700 employees from ALEARA marched in protest over the lack of progress being made in the dispute. The workers want the Employment Minister, Carlos Tomada, to intervene and impose obligatory conciliation talks between the unions. Most employees on the floating casinos do not want to change their union representation as they have already reached a deal over wage increases that are larger than those obtained by SOMU.

SOMU called a strike on 3 May even though the courts had ruled in favour of ALEARA on two occasions. Over the month that the casinos have been closed marchers have several times disrupted traffic at key points in Buenos Aires. They claim that the dispute is putting their jobs at risk and are calling for their wages to be paid. A meeting with Carlos Tomado resulted in an ‘Act of Intention’ and ALEARA declaring itself ready for mobilisation if the conflict continues. (E-06.07.07)

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