Workers at the National Meteorological Service (SMN) began a strike on April 8 in response to a plan for mass layoffs that could affect up to 30% of staff. A symbolic demonstration is scheduled for Thursday at the organization’s main office in Palermo, Buenos Aires.
The action aims to draw attention to what workers describe as a critical situation caused not only by the proposed layoffs but also by austerity measures that have halted many of the service’s functions. Employees are demanding the reinstatement of dismissed staff and calling for dialogue to ensure essential tasks continue.
Currently, SMN employs about 980 people, already below what workers consider necessary. According to meteorologist Cindy Fernández, “the dismissals would be distributed between 130 workers from weather stations across the country and 110 employees from headquarters in Buenos Aires.” She said if these job cuts proceed, SMN would be left with around 540 civilian employees when it is estimated that at least 1,200 are needed for normal operations.
Union representatives warn that such reductions could lead to a “meteorological blackout” affecting aviation safety and local data collection for forecasts. This could impact productive activities and reduce effectiveness in disaster prevention through early warning systems. Ana Saralegui, delegate of ATE at SMN, said: “With these dismissals they will take away our raw material, which is data. Without data, our forecasts and early warnings will be much weaker.”
The State Workers Association (ATE) and the Argentine Center of Meteorologists (CAM), leading these protests, say SMN is strategic for national sovereignty and security. They claim the layoffs were ordered by directives from the Ministry of Deregulation and State Transformation under Minister Federico Sturzenegger.
