Head of the teacher’s union SUTEBA, Roberto Baradel, confirmed that teachers will resume classes in the province of Buenos Aires after the winter break with the full payment of the bi-annual bonus scheduled to be given out next week.
“Yesterday we were told that they would be able to pay us the bonus,” said Baradel this morning on Radio 10. I want to make it clear that this is an achievement we have struggled for because . . . we knew they could pay us.”
SUTEBA had threatened that students would return from the winter break to empty classes when the province’s original plan had called for the bonus to be paid in two installments.
At the time, Baradel said the change from four installments to two was good, but not good enough. He insisted that the province pay the full bi-annual bonus by August 15.
“[The] 15th August deadline is still far away, all the government of Buenos Aires has to do is pay before that,” said Baradel.
In an attempt to get the money provincial governor, Daniel Scioli ordered spending cuts and struck a deal with casino operators, who agreed to make a large payment to state coffers in exchange for a renewal of their licenses ahead of time.
Now, however, the province will be able to pay the bi-annual bonuses in full by the end of the month because of yesterday’s transfer of $600mn from the national government to the province of Buenos Aires. President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner also allowed Scioli to issue bonds worth $900mn to pay outstanding wage obligations.
Along with the money came a stern warning from economy minister, Hernán Lorenzino who said the province has borrowed almost $2.5bn already in 2012.
Despite the announcement, Baradel also said that they would wait to see if the province follows through with the payment before officially stopping the planned strike.
“If the payment happens, the conflict will be resolved,” he said.
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