Subway workers announce new 24hr strike for Tuesday 11/10

Subway workers will go on strike on Tuesday to condemn the violent eviction of the home of one of their union leaders, Néstor Segovia.

"A gang of 10 people came along with the police, shot my son with rubber bullets and attacked my girlfriend," said Segovia during a televised interview. One of his sons, aged nine, had to be hospitalized because of the injuries he sustained, but is out of danger, the unionist said.

A judge of the province of Buenos Aires ordered the eviction of Segovia's family this morning, as the Segovia family was living in a property that had been occupied. Segovia said the property had been donated by the municipality of Moreno and noted there were "politcal motivations" behind the eviction. He also claimed that a canteen for the poor had been set up in his home.

Segovia reported he had received threats against his family from unionists of the UTA transport workers' union during clashes with workers of the subway yesterday.

Segovia, is the leader of subway workers who are demanding that the government grant legal status to their union, to splinter from UTA. UTA has resisted the initiative and scuffled with Segovia's loyalist in Constirución yesterday.

"There was a long-haired bus driver, who I have seen in the past, who threatened me and said they were coming after my children," Segovia noted today, claiming it is "usual" to recieve threats after the strikes. He also said he had received a threatening phone call last night, and that he would press charges against UTA members for the threats.

“We apologize to commuters, but we will strike again next week,” said union leader Roberto Pianelli.
Hugo Yasky, head of the CTA union umbrella group, expressed support for Segovia and urged the government to grant legal status to the union the workers want to establish away from the UTA. Vilma Ripoll, a leader of the far left Socialist Workers Movement MST, also spoke at the press conference.
A Buenos Aires province judge ordered the eviction of Segovia’s family this morning alleging they did not own the land they lived in. But Segovia argued that the property had been donated by the municipality of Moreno and noted there were “political motives” behind the eviction.

Read more on Buenos Aires Herald.