With a strong police guard at the Central Headquarters of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), the meeting of the Board of Directors took place to approve the “modernization” of the autonomous organization proposed by the government of Javier Milei, which consisted of the dismissal of 227 people and sales of emblematic fields and buildings.
But after more than 12 hours meeting, the session was adjourned and suspended. Finally, nor there was a vote due to lack of agreements between the 10 members of said council.
According to what emerged from the meeting, there were agreements on the sale of the organization’s land, but when they began to work on the dismissal of personnel, there was a break between the representatives.
According to what was entrusted to Clarionthe Government did not present a “serious modernization” plan, but rather it was “things in the air.” Now, we have to see what decision they make from the Casa Rosada after the rejection of the official project.
“The Presidency and the Vice Presidency consulted the Ministry of Agriculture and they were not given room. Vote and let it turn out as it turns out. There was no vote, they left the session without a quorum, nothing was resolved. There are no layoffs, bail out, there are no sales, There is nothing and the list of voluntary withdrawals was not approved either,” he said. Mario RomeroGeneral Secretary of Apinta, the union that represents the workers, around 9 p.m.
Andrea Sarnari, president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation, had ratified this Wednesday the entity’s position that they had communicated days ago. “We are going to oppose if the Government’s position is low on contracts and land sales. What we are not opposed to is reviewing things that must be reviewed, but it must be strategic,” he had remarked.
It should be noted that the Board of Directors is made up of the President and Vice President of INTA and a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, the faculties of Agronomy, the faculties of Veterinary Sciences (National Universities), the Argentine Association of Regional Consortiums of Agricultural Experimentation (AACREA) and the entities that make up the liaison table (Coninagro, CRA, Argentine Agrarian Federation and Argentine Rural Society).
“I hope that the directors of INTA choose to approve these measures that will provide more resources to the public body to improve its equipment, modernize it and enhance its research.” This was the wish of the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, when he mentioned this Wednesday the INTA modernization plan.
The Government’s “modernization” plan involves the sale of buildings, land and the dismissal of 227 employees. “The Government launched a plan to modernize INTA, which is a fundamental organization for the development of the Argentine countryside, whose objectives were distorted by the previous management,” the official had noted.
Outside the meeting, the Association of State Workers (ATE) and Apinta, They mobilized to express their “repudiation” against the so-called “modernization” plan of the organization promoted by the national government.
Up to 65 professionals who are in charge of directing the Experimental Stations and Research Institutes of that organization They criticized personnel layoffs and institutional adjustment. In a letter addressed to the National Board of Directors, they first claimed the quality of their professional work and that of those they direct.