Union action and politicization in the workplace in contemporary Argentina: the experience of workers´ struggle against hegemony in the Buenos Aires city subway (2000-2004).

Abstract

The article analyzes the uniqueness of the subway workers and delegates (2000-2004) in relation to the general process of unionism analyzed with the categories of unión revitalization and grassroots unionism that did not allow to explain it. The methodology was qualitative with participant and open observation, semi-structured interviews, analysis of the content of documents: union state acts, national newspapers and various alternative media. In addition, self-made statistics are used. It was shown that the significant economic and political conquests were due to the union and previous militancy of some workers in politics classist parties that organized and developed union tactics and strategies to accumulate base power with which to obtain job stability, six hours of workday, a radical awareness revealed in: union democracy, solidarity with various social sectors and workers, inside and outside the workplace, and in the confrontation with the company, the direction of Union Tranviaria Automotor (UTA) and the governments, Buenos Aires and national.