Dear friends,

There have been a number of serious attacks intended to destroy the militant shop stewards' committee of Metrovías (the Buenos Aires underground railway company).

Over the last weeks the following events have taken place:

• (1) The company refuses to recognise the delegates and has halted all negotiations.
• (2) The bureaucratic leadership of the union (UTA) is also attacking the shop stewards' committee, and has sent in loyal officials to initiate a process of sanctions against the delegates with the aim of removing their credentials.
• (3) The company has unleashed a campaign of defamatory graffiti, leaflets and newspaper announcements that has the open support of some government functionaries.
• (4) Delegates have been intimidated, physically attacked, and are facing legal proceedings. There has been a heavy presence of security forces in some areas of the underground system.
• (5) The company has sent a telegram announcing the start of a legal process to withdraw trade union facilities from, and eventually sack, one of the shop stewards, Néstor Segovia. They have similar plans for other members of the shop stewards' committee.

Faced with these events, as well as asking for your support for any measures decided democratically by the railway workers, as a matter of urgency we are launching an international campaign, requesting statements demanding an end to these attacks on trade union and labour rights. Please send your messages to the following addresses:

Metrovías - info@metrovias.com.ar

Minister of Labour: Dr Carlos Tomada

• rinstitucionales@trabajo.gov.ar
• Fax: + 54 (11) 4310 6092
• Telefax: + 54 (11) 4310 6319

Labour Secretary: Dr. Noemí Rial nrial@trabajo.gov.ar

CGT - Trade Union Confederation

• Hugo Moyano + 54 (11) 4334 0596 / 99
• gremiales@fedcam.org.ar

With copies to the Metrovías Shop Stewards' Committee:

• solidaridadsubte@gmail.com
• prensa@metrodelegados.com.ar