Amid an ongoing salary dispute that has persisted since the beginning of the year, the Single Union of Customs Personnel of the Argentine Republic (SUPARA) has called for new protest actions this week. The strike will take place on Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4, and will include an IT blackout across all customs offices in the country.
The decision was made by the National Delegates’ Plenary after failing to reach an agreement in the latest round of negotiations with the agency’s authorities. According to the union, salary negotiations remain stalled, while the official sector continues to refuse any wage improvements, conditioning them on the annulment of a precautionary measure that guarantees workers’ job stability.
During the announced days, workers will report to their workplaces but will not perform operational tasks. Additionally, assigned computers will remain turned off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the rest of the country. Informative assemblies are also planned at all customs offices nationwide.
A Conflict with Precedents
The current confrontation did not start this week. So far this year, the customs union has already carried out multiple strike days, including actions on February 20 and 21, as well as March 25 and 26. On those dates, the inactivity was complemented by IT blackouts, which virtually paralyzed many administrative tasks at the country’s main customs offices.
In mid-March, in an attempt to ease tensions, the official sector proposed opening a “Dialogue Table.” However, the negotiations failed to yield concrete progress, and the differences persisted. The union rejects the demand to lift a precautionary measure safeguarding job stability as a prerequisite for discussing salary improvements.
In this context, a National Delegates’ Plenary was convened, where it was decided to escalate the action plan with new measures for this week, in addition to participating in the general strike on April 10 and the mobilization planned by the CGT (General Confederation of Labor) in defense of retirees the previous day.
What Is Being Demanded and Why Does It Affect Everyone?
The root of the conflict is wages. The union argues that the purchasing power of customs workers has severely deteriorated amid rising living costs, and salary negotiations have been deadlocked for months. However, there is also an institutional dimension, as the union demands compliance with an active judicial measure protecting workers from potential layoffs, which they view as a direct threat to job stability.
While the situation might seem distant to most people, the reality is that customs activity is a key player in the country’s economic functioning. From food and medicine to electronics and auto parts, everything entering or leaving Argentina passes through customs.
When customs personnel do not work, the authorization of shipments is delayed, the logistics chain is disrupted, and the cost of accessing imported goods rises. This can lead to stock shortages, price increases, or complications for industries reliant on foreign supplies. Exports also face delays, impacting the competitiveness of businesses.
Impact on Foreign Trade
The lack of concrete progress in negotiations has affected operators, customs brokers, and workers linked to foreign trade. Delays in cargo verification lead to container backlogs and rescheduling of deliveries.
For its part, the union has hinted at the possibility of implementing further measures if there is no immediate response. Participation in previous strikes was high, and a similar turnout is expected this week. Additionally, the judicial component introduces an element of uncertainty, as lifting the precautionary measure protecting job stability could alter the scenario.