ARGENTINA:  The Unión Obrera Metalúrgica (UOM) has responded to industry's refusal to meet the union's pay demands by organising an action plan, which began with a national 24 hour strike on May 10.

The UOM, an IMF affiliate, planned a one hour stoppage for every hour of work between May 14 and May 18. However, the measure was suspended when the Ministry of Labour stipulated compulsory arbitration. Meetings to discuss the pay demands have resumed.

The UOM is calling for a 20-25 per cent pay rise and emphasises that its actions are against employers not the government.