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He Gastronomic Worker’s Day is celebrated every August 2nd in Argentina in honor of the creation of the first federation that brought together the workers in the hotel and catering sector. Its creation represented a major step forward for these sectors, the fight for their rights, the unification of criteria and salary improvements for all its collaborators.
This holiday does not interrupt the activities of this sector. Therefore, they will provide their services as usual this Friday.
August 2 marks the founding of the first federation that brought together workers in the hotel and restaurant sectorShutterstock
The story goes back to the August 2, 1948when it was founded Argentine Federation of Hotel Industry Workers (FOAIH)which would be the first trade association to represent the hotel and restaurant sector. This measure was sanctioned through resolution No. 160/55 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Nation, currently recognized by the International Labour Organization.
The FOAH It brought together all the workers in these activities, from the administrative areas, customer service, janitorial, kitchen, among others. Until then, these disciplines were represented by small unions, which generated differences between them. On August 25, 1955, its legal nature was modified to Union of Gastronomic Workers of the Argentine Republic (UTGRA).
However, this union faced several difficulties, when it was banned by the Liberating Revolutiona movement that had overthrown President Juan Domingo Peron that same year. After 11 years, the democratic government of Arturo Illia authorized his return to union activity. During the coup d’état led by Juan Carlos Onganiathe sector’s bank accounts were affected, forcing it to cease its work until 1983.
In 2004 its name was changed again to Union of Tourism, Hotel and Gastronomic Workers of the Argentine Republic (UTHGRA).
UTHGRA also represents the hotel sectorshuttestock – Shutterstock
The UTHGRA has more than 450,000 members and 59 branches located throughout the country. This union brings together cooks, chefs, cleaning employees, waiters, bartenders and hotel employees. Monthly Overview of Registered Employment published by the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security of the Nation in 2022 states that this sector achieved significant growth in year-on-year terms.
For its part, the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) states that that same year the gastronomy and hotel sector was the one that experienced the greatest development. According to its data, its activity led the country’s economic growth, with an increase of 44.3% year-on-year.
The Union of Hotel and Gastronomic Workers of the Argentine Republic (UTHGRA) explains that this year it managed to close its collective bargaining negotiations that will consist of 240% annually. Currently, this union is under the leadership of Luis Barrionuevo and in the first quarter of this year the increases reached 90%, together with an exceptional bonus of 15%.
It is estimated that there are currently more than 15,000 hotels in the country, which represent one of the five main sources of income for the economy annually. gastronomic sector has experienced significant growth following the pandemic.
Aramburu at the Michelin Guide awards ceremony
Currently, six restaurants in the country have a estrella Michellin. Aramburulocated in Pasaje del Correo, Vicente López 1661, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, has two of these special recognitions.
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