Facundo Moyano, leader of the Unified Union of Toll Workers and Related Workers, has been working for three years on a proposal to create service, rest and leisure inns on land corresponding to the National Highway. Detected that there are 40 lots -all from Streets- where services to passengers could be provided, cargo carriers, to which commercial and gastronomic proposals can be added.
After a meeting with Economy Minister Sergio Massa to discuss this issue, Moyano said that “we are taking advantage of public lands belonging to Vialidad The Nacional and the Road Corridors Company will also participate”. Some read it as a concession from Massa to Moyano.
But Moyano explains it differently. “It is not our intention that these lands be turned over to our union. The project belongs to the union, with the aim of creating new jobs. We’re not asking that the National Highway give it to us. It is sold to Corredores Viales (a state company already works) or to private companies (Abertis, Impregilo). It is by no means my intention to hand her over to the union, ”she clarified in dialogue with clarion. The program is called Pasear and “The stopping places for services, supplies and stops on Argentine routes”.
Toll workers are affected by the automation of collections. Moyano suggests they might find a business opportunities with these inns. “It can be done with (Sergio) Massa, with (Horacio) Rodríguez Larreta, with whatever government it is. It will create employment and useful space for both passengers and freight carriers. We want a lot of participation from private companies, motorway concessionaires, oil companies (not only YPF, but also others), gastronomy,” he explains. He even slips the name of a well-known fast food chain that has already expressed interest in participating.
The former leader of the Frente de Todos understands these spaces today they are inactive and that could be useful for multiple industries at the same time.
“At kilometer 80 of the Zárate-Campana route there is a piece of land. Today trucks take the opportunity to park near toll booths, where there is lighting and security. What we offer is a model used in the United States, Italy, Korea, Japan, Germany. Let’s think of a parking lot, with a gas station, a maxikiosk, a complete car service, a space for recreation. It is convenient for private companies, passengers, carriers and for us as a union it allows us to create more jobs”.
In the presentation that Moyano had given with the previous transport ministers – the late Mario Meoni and Alexis Guerrera, who resigned – it is expected that in these inns there will be specific spaces for carriers, where they have room to sleep, bathe, with medical attention, bathrooms and gymnasium. “Passengers could enter these hostels by paying the toll. On the side of the hauliers they would enter demonstrating that this is their job”.
In the inns there may also be spaces for commercial and gastronomic developments, such as car parks, car dealerships, offices, premises.
“This exists in the world. We take it and adjust it. We have discussed this with the National Highway authorities and the Ministry of Transport. Massa told us that he liked it and that we are working on it technically,” says Moyano.
“I want us to get started with one soon, the one I mentioned at kilometer 80 of the Zárate-Campana route. Beyond the development of the railway, the transport of goods by truck will continue, because there are places that the train does not reach. As a union we propose this, which we believe is positive for everyone: employment, private investment, and in spaces that are not used today ”, he adds. Moyano says he discussed it with his father (Hugo), who heads the trucking union.
“Road dealerships want to make money and this is one way to do it. I would like to sit down with them and offer them to participate in this project. Reconcile the corporate side with the union. In our business we are moving towards the retraining of work. In these inns we can check the load, the weight, supervise the tracking, help the carriers with additional services that may be convenient for you”.
Source: Clarin
