Subway rolling strikes affect thousands of commuters

The rotating strikes in BA subway lines began just as it was announced by the Metrodelegados subway workers union on Monday. At 5 am the B line was paralysed until 8 am with protests beginning then at the H line.
The 3-hour rolling strikes is only the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between the Metrodelegados and the UTA transport union over which of the unions is the genuine representative of subte workers.
B subway line union leader Claudio Dellacarbonara explained that the strike was decided after the Labour Ministry suspended a hearing in which they were to plea for its legal entity as a union, which is currently only recognized to UTA transport union.
The battle will now continue in courts, it was stated by the Labour Ministry yesterday and confirmed this morning by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanicd in his daily press conference at the government house.
Rolling strikes
Subway Line B from 5 to 8
Subway Line H from 8 to 11
Subway Line C from 11 to 14
Subway Line D from 14 to 17
Subway Line E from 17 to 20
Subway Line A from 20 to 23

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Donda may run against Lousteau in UNEN City primaries

City representatives of the Broad Front-UNEN yesterday suggested that national lawmaker Victoria Donda may be running in the coalition’s primaries next year against Martín Lousteau.

Party sources yesterday told the Herald that a final decision on whether Donda will decide to run or not in the PASO primaries, scheduled for April, be taken this week.

The move is an attempt by centre-left elements of UNEN to fight the power of firebrand lawmaker Elisa Carrió, a close ally of Lousteau.

Last week, the former Economy minister launched his candidacy and presented himself as the leader of the coalition’s alleged “unified” ticket for the City.

As the Herald reported on Friday, the UNEN’s left-wing parties such as Libres del Sur and Proyecto Sur said that while they celebrated the announcement, the final nomination would be settled in a competitive primary.

Even Lousteau acknowledged this tension while announcing his bid on Thursday.

“Nobody owns UNEN, we just represent an important segment,” he said.

Greater unity?

UNEN, a coalition of eight political parties, has been unable to establish a consolidated agenda as a result of infighting and discussion over electoral strategies. With greater chances of winning the top Executive position up for grabs in the City, the coalition in the district has been able to reduce that infighting and keep greater unity.

But the situation may change soon as Donda, a former Kirchnerite, is reportedly seeking to face Lousteau in the primaries as a representative of Libres del Sur (led by Humberto Tumini), Proyecto Sur (headed by Fernando “Pino” Solanas) and other figures unsatisfied with Lousteau’s bid, including Socialist (PS) Party leader Roy Cortina, who was pressured into stepping down from the mayoral race.

The young economist is a close ally to Carrió, who last month decided to withdraw from the national board of Broad Front-UNEN. In fact, the deputy mayor candidate of UNEN is Fernando Sánchez, another figure linked to the firebrand lawmaker.

On Saturday, Tumini said the “rational UNEN” ticket headed by Lousteau was in fact a victory by “those who encourage accords with the right,” in reference to Carrió’s repeated calls to seal a nationwide deal with Macri’s PRO party.

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Argentina sentences 15 former officials to life for genocide

In Argentina, a group of former government officials have been sentenced to life in prison for the abduction, torture and killing of dissidents during the country's military regime from 1976-1983.

Retiro (Barrio) / Retiro (Neighborhood) - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Retiro is one of the largest hubs of transportation services in Argentina, and is home to many high-end stores and residential areas popular among both local wealthy gentry and expatriate executives. About 26,000 of its people, however, including thousands of illegal immigrants, live in the "Villa 31" shantytown built along the Port of Buenos Aires from the 1930s onwards. Local and long distance rail service heading to the north originate from Estación Retiro (Retiro train terminal), also a major long-distance bus terminal (Terminal de Ómnibus) is located adjacent to the station, subte line C of the Buenos Aires Metro system and numerous local public bus services, this area is always teeming with commuters and traffic on weekdays. A major thoroughfare is Avenida del Libertador, which becomes Avenida Leandro N. Alem past the Retiro train terminal. Avenida Leandro Alem runs north-to-south along the Buenos Aires Central Business District, which Retiro shares with the San Nicolás ward; the Retiro section of the business district is centered around the Catalinas Norte office park, initially built in the 1970s over docklands developed a century earlier by Francisco Seeber. Other principal streets and avenues in Retiro are Santa Fe, Córdoba, and Libertador Avenues, pedestrian Florida Street, and Avenida 9 de Julio. The Retiro section of Florida Street was the site of Harrods Buenos Aires, originally the London department store's only overseas affiliate, from 1914 to 1998; the abandoned landmark continued to host art shows and Tango festivals, and permits were obtained in 2009 to reopen the retailer. Another Retiro landmark spared demolition was the Ortiz Basualdo Palace. Completed in 1912 as a private residence, it was acquired by the French Government for use as its Embassy in Argentina in 1939. When entire blocks of housing were razed to make way for an extension of the Avenida 9 de Julio in the late 1970s, the embassy was spared due to its landmark status, and remains the lone building in the midst of intense traffic. The neighboring Pereda Palace, built in 1920, serves as the official residence of the Ambassador of Brazil. Retiro is home to a number of five star hotels, including the Four Seasons, Marriott Plaza, Sheraton, and Sofitel. The oldest of these, the Marriott Plaza, was opened in 1909 and faces Plaza San Martín, to the north of which lies the train terminal and the Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (formerly Plaza Británica), where the Torre Monumental (formerly Torre de los Ingleses) is located.

Argentina Alleges Extortion After Supreme Court Sides With Vulture Funds Preying on Sovereign Debt

http://www.democracynow.org - We look at a case that is being called the "'trial of the century" in how poor countries repay sovereign debt. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Argentina over its $1.5 billion debt in a ruling critics say validates predatory behavior by so-called "vulture funds." The case involves hedge funds that bought up Argentina's debt at bargain rates after its financial crisis more than a decade ago. After Argentina defaulted on its debts, the vast majority of its creditors agreed to slash the value of their holdings. But NML Capital and other firms refused to accept the deal, instead seeking full repayment. Monday's ruling leaves in place a lower court decision ordering Argentina to pay the companies. Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has called the firms' actions "extortion." We are joined by Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network.

Click here to watch the full interview on Democracy Now!:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/6/19...

Democracy Now!, is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,200+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream 8-9am ET at http://www.democracynow.org.