Negotiate parities with the most combative union, argue with a renowned journalist on the air and get into partisan controversies. The first month at the head of the Ministry of Labor was too intense to Rachel “Kelly” Olmos.
Agreement. Pablo Moyano He had become intransigent: he publicly stated that he wanted a parity of 131% and that if not, he would go on the dole. That was the first litmus test for the economist who Alberto Fernandez elected to replace Claudio Moroni. She responded by asking them to be “solidarity” with the other unions and Hugo’s son assured that he was “unusual” that they tried to put a cap on him from the Government. But the negotiations continued. Finally, the minister and the trade unionist negotiated 107% and the scheduled force measure was lifted. At Casa Rosada they considered it a triumph.
“She reached an agreement days after taking office, without conflict, and with Moyano sitting at the table signing with her”, they highlight in her surroundings about the debut. At the beginning of November, she together with Serge Massa, met with the CGT to show unity with the workers: “It is early to make evaluations, but they have been sitting down with everyone and managing to close parities. It is not minor in this context”, analyzes an employee who has already worked with a long list of ministers.
A week later, the country was about to experience a national strike of almost all transport: a large group of unions demanded compensation for retirees and pensioners, due to high inflation, and the negotiations had not come to fruition. At the last minute, the minister called for mandatory conciliation to extend the negotiations. Everyone, except La Fraternidad, had to lift the measure of force.
Controversy. Olmos is, at this point, the spearhead of the rebellious grimace that the President showed against Kirchnerism. Because he is fervently opposed to the “fixed sum”, the project that he claimed Christina Kirchner for workers. “It does not seem appropriate to us,” the minister replied when asked about that possibility. In return they prepare a bonus for the end of the year.
But his biggest controversy was just after serving a month in his duties. Before INDEC released the price index, Olmos made an unfortunate statement. “Then we continue working with the inflationbut let Argentina win first”, he said on the Romina Manguel program on Channel 9. Bomba.
“I consider that you have to work all the time due to inflation, but one month is not going to make a big difference. On the other hand, from the emotional point of view, of what it means for all Argentine men and women, we want Argentina to be champion, ”he argued later.
He had already had an event, during an interview, that had gone viral. It was his interdict with Marcelo Longobardi. The journalist tricked him, inventing the name of an economist so that Olmos would fall. He fell. “Did you hear the economist Fortunato Secco?” asked Longobardi. “Yes, I know him, but I don’t read his newsletter,” answered Olmos. “Fortunato Secco doesn’t exist, I just invented it,” Longobardi surprised, leaving the minister off-side. The government spokeswoman, Gabriela Cerruti, then came to the crossroads: “Fortunato Secco is a fictitious character, but Luis Secco is an economist whom Longobardi often interviews.” On one side of the crack they read it as a betrayal by the journalist, on the other as a mistake by the official.
In a few weeks, Olmos was embroiled in different discussions. An energetic start, with successes and setbacks in her functions, typical of the moment the country is experiencing.
