World · Latin America · 3 hrs ago
Buenos Aires Subte strike ends after three union leaders are released
A surprise strike halted all six Subte lines and the pre-metro in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The disruption lasted five hours, and service resumed after three union leaders arrested during a protest were released.
The dispute began when the union objected to a disciplinary sanction against a worker and employees opened ticket barriers so passengers could ride free.
Police intervened, and three workers were arrested; prosecutors also issued an arrest warrant for the worker who opened an emergency exit.
The union says the arrests triggered the strike and wants assurances workers will not be persecuted for protesting.
The city classifies the Subte and pre-metro as an essential service and requires at least half of normal operations during strikes.
The lines carry around 800,000 passengers a day, and the union has said it considers opening the barriers a legitimate protest.
A surprise strike shut down all six Buenos Aires Subte lines and the pre-metro on Tuesday.
Services resumed five hours after three union representatives arrested during a protest were released.
The union said the strike was triggered by the arrests and condemned what it called the criminalisation of protest.
The dispute began after a worker received a disciplinary sanction that the union considered abusive.
- Who
- Buenos Aires Subte workers and their union, the Asociación Gremial de Trabajadores del Subterráneo y Premetro.
- What
- Workers stopped services across the Subte and pre-metro network. The strike ended after three union representatives were released.
- When
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Services were suspended shortly after 10am local time and resumed five hours later.
- Where
- Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Why
- Workers demanded the release of three union leaders arrested during a protest. The union said the dispute began with a disciplinary sanction it considered abusive.
Subte workers’ union
Buenos Aires city authorities
Arrests
Subte workers’ union
The union said the strike was triggered by the arrests and denounced the criminalisation of protest.
Buenos Aires city authorities
City Security Secretary Maximiliano Piñeiro said the three workers were arrested for obstructing security forces.
Opening ticket barriers
Subte workers’ union
Union leader Claudio Dellecarbonara said opening the barriers was a legitimate form of protest.
Buenos Aires city authorities
Mayor Jorge Macri said people who block an essential service go to jail and described the action as “mafia-style extortion.
A disciplinary sanction was imposed on a worker, which the union considered abusive.
Employees opened the ticket barriers at the terminus of Línea B to let passengers travel for free, leading to a confrontation with police.
Operator Emova reported that services across the network had been suspended because of union industrial action.
Services resumed after the three union representatives were released.
- Subte lines affected
- All six
- Pre-metro
- Services also suspended
- Strike duration
- Five hours
- Arrested union representatives
- Three
- Network ridership
- Around 800,000 passengers a day
What people are saying
Anyone who blocks an essential service goes to jail. No ifs, no buts,
We want guarantees that they will stop persecuting workers,
They want to establish a fascist dictatorship in which people are not allowed to make demands,