The workers of National Parks organized protests during Holy Week against layoffs in the administration throughout the country. They were made in Bariloche and Aluminé, in tourist spots to make the claim visible. From Parque Lanín they warned that they are carrying out minimum guards and They asked tourists for “maximum caution.” In addition, they said that this Wednesday they will go to the park’s administration and next weekend there will be a new activity in San Martín de los Andes.
«The Lanín National Park informs that, given the unjustified dismissals of the 6 workers, the personnel who attend to emergencies and respond on the trails to any situation, declare themselves with MINIMUM GUARDS AND IN STATE OF PERMANENT ASSEMBLY until their reinstatement.
All residents and tourists are asked to take maximum caution when traveling through the wild area,” they explained in a statement.
One of the protests took place this Saturday at the Pehuén Festival, in Aluminé, where workers distributed flyers among those present. There, Vice Governor Gloria Ruiz was present, who supported the claim of those dismissed.
Ruiz took one of the flags that he displays the claim and allowed himself to be photographed with neighbors and other authorities who ask that the staff return to their duties.
On the other hand, there was a demonstration in Puerto Pañuelo, in Bariloche. It is the point from which the lake excursions through Lake Nahuel Huapi depart towards Isla Victoria and Bosque de los Arrayanes and towards Puerto Blest.
«We bring the problem to the people who come to enjoy the park for Easter, we tell them what is happening and the risk to protected areas. We had a very good receptionwe delivered an explanatory flyer and we expressed ourselves with posters,” said the delegate of ATE Patagonia Norte Regional Directorate, Marcelo Rojasto Page
Regarding the activities for this week, from the Lanín national park they reported that mwill demonstrate during the Patagonia Run race, next weekend. But before, They will peacefully occupy the administration of the Lanín national parkin the center of San Martín de los Andes.
It will be Wednesday April 3rd. That day, national ATE called for the massive and simultaneous occupation of national organizations throughout the country, as a protest against the more than 10 thousand layoffs already recorded, which could increase after the review of 70 thousand contracts, as announced by President Javier Milei.
For their part, ATE representatives from Bariloche reported that on Wednesday the 3rd They will hold a press conference at 10, at the Lanin Park Municipality, located in Moreno and Elordi. “There will not be an activity focused on the Municipality, but we are in a state of permanent assembly,” they explained.
Rojas, in dialogue with “Vos al Aire” by BLACK RIVER RADIOassured that it is “unjustified” dismissals and pointed out that given the announcements of the national government it is understood that in the coming months they will continue with the separations.
Protests during Holy Week: the Government had warned that it would prevent cuts
On Tuesday, parks workers marched to the beginning of the Seven Lakes Trail, in San Martín de los Andes. There was a cut on Route 40 and they also carried out a stay at the mayor’s office.
Given the announcement that the workers had made about possible new cuts, the National Parks Administration (APN), which depends on the Ministry of the Interior, had warned that they would initiate “the necessary measures to guarantee free movement and access to parks and prevent the cutting of routes.
From APN they highlighted that Of a total of 2,200 employees, around 80 people were dismissed for having contracts of less than one year, according to Milei’s decree from last year. According to the workers, among those laid off there are people who have been working for 15 years.
«Contrary to what the Minister of the Interior (Guillermo Francos), the secretary Daniel Scioli and the president of National Parks, Cristian Larsen, announced, none of those laid off were hired in 2023, but on the contrary, they are workers with between 2 and 19 years of seniority in the institution, highly qualified and trained, each in their area«The employees said in a statement.
Rojas had detailed that there is 6 workers from the Lanín park, 2 in Nahuel Huapi, one in Arrayanes, one in the National Forest Fire Fighting Directorate and 2 from the landscapes-World Bank project.
With respect to brigade members, only have their position guaranteed until December 31 of this year. It was also indicated that the contracts linked to the operational areas of the APN and the National Fire Management Service will be renewed, but it was not clarified until what date.
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