‘Working with sadness’ in Argentina

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 12

‘Working with sadness’ in Argentina

From the “Economist,” London

Like the tango, nobody knows for sure who invented it. It probably began before the armed forces seized power last March, but “trabajando con tristeza” (working with sadness) became widely known only after the coup. It is not a joke. Some Argentines feel. that it is as significant a rebellion against authority as Evita Peron’s rabble-rousing over 30 years ago. And so far nobody has an answer to this very Argentinian (but possibly contagious) form of industrial action.

“Working with sadness” is a go-slow strike — but with feeling. It is almost impossible to stop. Calling in. the troops was tried but then dropped because- it did no good at ail. Army officers found it difficult to tell whether workers were going about their labour with sadness or with their normal lack of gusto. In any event, workers were careful to appear to be doing their jobs properly while the troops were around but as soon as they left their sadness returned and production fell, in some cases to ?0 per cent of normal.

The effects of working with sadness were not immediately felt because a

stringent policy of wage restraint has cut real wages by about half compared with two years ago.

In private industry, the loss in production has been almost welcome. Asked by the Government not to lay off manpower, but unable to sell their products, private firms were relatively content with full employment and low productivity. But sad working is now taking its toll in State-owned enterprises and public utilities. The 'most dramatic example of working with sadness has been among the light and power workers, who are old hands at this new game. They first dimmed the lights of Buenos Aires and caused numerous power cuts throughout the country in October, 1976. That time it was in protest against the firing of 200 workers declared redundant, including (hardly by coincidence) the major union leaders. The workers backed down when the security forces began arresting ringleaders. But the same tactics were employed when the Government began to strip light and power workers of the privileges that had been won for them by their rich and powerful union. Apart from such fringe benefits as free electricity,

special discounts at the navy’s supermarket (a privilege that particularly irked navy men) and lush, unionowned hotels and recreational facilities, light and power workers enjoyed a 36hour week compared with the 40 hours worked by most A-gentinians. Their sadness is now aimed at forcing the Government to back down over the new contracts that add those extra four hours to their week. Because of their slowness, walking off the job, inattention and refusal to do maintenance work the power plants are running down and there could be serious breakdowns if the conflict drags on for long. The companies claim that their equipment can hold out against sad working for four months. But low tension and power cuts are already normal and the new sadness only set in at the beginning of this month.

Sadness is now creeping into other State enterprises where people of retirement age have been told to take their pensions and go. The armed forces are trying to restore Argentina’s ruined economy. But nothing that they are likely to do will make the pampered state workers happy So it looks as if working with sadness is going to become as much a part of the Argentinian scene as the tango.