Abstract

GUEVARA, Sebastián. Reactivation of labor mobilization in the automotive industry (2004‐2011): Partial recovery of wages with labor flexibility persistence. Trab. soc. [online]. 2012, n.19. ISSN 1514-6871.

Since 2004 the power of the workers union of auto makers in Argentina grew in visibility. Through collective bargaining, but also increasing of, assemblies in workplaces, public demonstrations, protests and strikes, the revival of labor conflicts led by the workers was giving way to brake the downward trend experienced both employment had as wages in the sector. However, despite this growing movement and results in terms of employment and wages, the basis of negotiations does not seem to have changed substantially. That is, the more flexible set of conditions of purchase and use of the work force remain valid (and in some cases deepened). This was evident in the crisis experienced by the sector between 2008 and 2009, before which the companies appealed to the flexible tools (and even used the situation to further its development.) The resistance of workers from the crisis left in evidence, too, criticized the union leadership that developed in the workplace. This paper presents an analysis of labor disputes developed in the automotive Argentina between 2004 and 2011. As well as some of the results of these conflicts in terms of: wage developments, the process of labor flexibility and union politics.

Keywords : Automotive industry; Union revival; Trade organization in the workplace; Flexible working.

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