[SANITIZED]AREA BRIEFS NOVEMBER 9, 1977 - 1977/11/09

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628193
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: November 9, 1977

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
PSI
OUTGOING MESSAGE
SIGNAL C Wen USG ONLY
COS i�CP TOO
OMF 0 0 0 0 0
ClIkellOWAT
wroreato,e
TIM
0 0
3.5(c)
CONF: INFO: FILE
:1
�
P441 OP OP PAGII�
2
C1Tlet 'SUMO VISPESINC� 1.14.4��� �
LATIN AMERICA BRIEF ??-1?2 9 NOVEMBER 1977-Y
O DISSEM BY:
aeio 0011
0 NI TAM TO PER
� ciP vote �
1. ARGENTINA: THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO HAVE
WEATHERED LAST WEEK'S WIDESPREAD LABOR UNREST IN PUBLIC SECTOR
INDUSTRIES. MOST STRIKING WORKERS RETURNED TO THEIR JOBS OVER THE
WEEKEND AFTER THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED WAGE TALKS AND THREATENED HARSH
ANTISTRIKE MEASURES. THE MANNER IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT SETTLED
THE DISPUTE OPENS THE WAY FOR FURTHER UNREST THAT WOULD TEST THE
MILITARY REGIME'S AUTHORITY AND ITS DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE STRICT
AUSTERITY MEASURES-Si
THE APPARENTLY SPONTANEOUS STRIKES�WHICH SPREAD RAPIDLY TO
TRANSPORTATION, PORT, MARITIME, AND POWER WORKERS IN BUENOS AIRES
AND NEARBY AREAS--STEMMED FROM A CONTINUING DECLINE IN REAL WAGES.
IN ITS EFFORT TO CONTROL THE MOST SERIOUS LABOR CRISIS SINCE THE
MILITARY TOOK OVER IN 1976, THE GOVERNMENT EXTENDED TO STATE ENTER-
PRISES THE 40-PERCENT "WAGE FLEXIBILITY" POLICY THAT IT HAD
DATE:
ORM:
UNIT:
EXT:
OPPICEIN C001100101TIPS OPPICIffell
CLAIIII�PIC�110.�
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
��117�11111CATIMMI OPOPOR�
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
OUTGOING MESSAGE
SIGNAL. CI one CWIL�
41,�� CO0 �C� lee
Off 0
C4AININTICINTINIT
0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5(c)
.kft'Ef
NG NAOS Nallieliage �101C��1170
CORP:
INFO- FILE
OC.
3
DISSEN BY:
ONO
0 ft/TWIN. Ift PER
0 *
GRANTED TO PRIVATE FIRMS LAST MONTH. PREVIOUSLY, PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS HAVE NOT SHARED IN UNSANCTIONED PAY INCREASES GIVEN BY
PRIVATE EMPLOYERS TO FEND OFF WORKER DISSATISFACTION.Y
A NUMBER OF STATE COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED WAGE IN-
CREASES WITHIN THE NEW GUIDELINES. BUT THE WORKERS REPORTEDLY ARE
DISSATISFIED WITH THE PAY HIKES: MANY WORKERS WERE DEMANDING IN-
CREASES OF UP TO 100 OERCENT. FOR THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, MOST WORKERS
APPARENTLY HAVE SUCCUMBED TO THE THREATS OF DISMISSAL AND TO THE
ARGUMENT THAT NO WAGE INCREASES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL AFTER
EMPLOYEES RETURNED TO WORK.Y
LABOR'S CONTINUING DISSATISFACTION PLACES THE GOVERNMENT IN
A PRECARIOUS POSITION. ANY INCREASES IN WAGES CREATE PRESSURE FROM
OTHER WORKERS FOR SIMILAR TREATMENT AND THUS JEOPARDIZE THE AD-
MINISTRATION'S POLICY OF LIMITING SALARY BOOSTS--A KEY PART OF ITS
EFFORT TO REDUCE /NFLATION.Y
MINISTER OF ECONOMY MARTINEZ DE HOZ WARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE
GOVERNMENT MOULD MAKE NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS. THE MILITARY REGIME
HAS STRINGENT EMERGENCY LEGISLATION ON THE BOOKS, BUT A STRONG
DATE:
ORE:
UNIT:
EXT:
C��111111011�001014
014�:110 COOMINle����11 41301it.���
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
ANNININTICATINTI 420.11:00
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
OUTGOING MESSAGE
o
, I ---1" �
4 4
, r
SIGNAL. ClIGVI G use 9
�
ACP VOG ?PG AGO OC,
OMF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5(c)
Ocio1WM LOGOOS.
COMP INFO: FILE
1 �
PASS O� �GOIS
4
COM GOGLINIGC� GiGNIGG
0
swot a DISSEM BY:
NO 041lig
GIMANG TO PER
0,w sr
ASSERTION OF AUTHORITY WOULD EXACERBATE THE DELICATE LABOR SITUA�
TION AS WELL AS HARM ARGENTINA'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION.Y
PRESIDENT VIDELA MAY NOW HAVE TO CONTEND WITH AN UPSURGE IN
ILLEGAL COUNTERSUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY BY HARD�LINERS WITHIN THE
.�
SECURITY FORCES, WHO MAY DECIDE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN
HANDS. ALTHOUGH THE ADMINISTRATION HAS EVINCED A DESIRE TO STOP
VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS) IT IS NOT STRICTLY ENFORCING MEASURES
TO HALT EXCESSES.Y
A FURTHER COMPLICATION IS THE RECENT INCREASE IN LEFTIST
TERRORISM IN BUENOS AIRES. ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE MONTONEROS
ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TO INFILTRATE THE LABOR UNIONS, AND THE GROUP
IS APPARENTLY TRYING TO INCREASE ITS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE WORKERS
BY CONDUCTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND SABOTAGE. WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE
THAT THE TERRORISTS INSTIGATED THE CURRENT OUTBREAK OF LABOR UN�
REST, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ANY WAGE
IMPROVEMENTS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.Y
VIDELA'S MILITARY RIVALS--ESPECIALLY JUNTA MEMBER AND NAVY
CHIEF ADMIRAL MASSERA--MAY TRY TO USE THE GOVERNMENT'S CURRENT
DATE:
ORM:
MOT:
EXT:
MOO MOOS OTOTCITO COOTOOOMOMWOCOTTS
CLOSSMONT,OTNOT�
3.5(c)
AUVINGIGGAVING
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193
OUTGOING MESSAGEIIol
Ti
3
Our 0 0
;F-Eitt":2:
..."
�IQNA.GtNTR usa
UN ACP TOO
TP4
0 0 0
3.5(c)
CONF: INFO: FILE
04111�TING EPODUP
DC.
I � ;
11�1
room or MUMS
5
CITE POSSA44 44P441100CIE PIUMISSO
mow' DISSEM BY:
PO 010411
ammo TO PER
0 #
PROBLEMS TO UNDERCUT THE PRESIDENT'S POSITION. SOME HARD-LINE
MILITARY OFFICERS ARE ALREADY GRUMBLING THAT VIDELA SHOULD HAVE
ANTICIPATED THE LABOR PROBLEMS AND TAKEN PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628193