With salaries of $ 20,000, no bonuses or licenses: that's how Conicet fellows work

Conicet Fellows

Researchers in conicet demand a re-composition of wages. Photo: Facebook

"There is a political decision to reduce fellows' salaries. We are one of the most beaten elements of Conicet, alongside the administrative authorities."he explained to minutouno.com Lucila D & Urso, delegate of the Young Scientists of Buenos Aires.

According to the denounced union guild researchers, wages have suffered a significant loss of purchasing power and parity that is negotiated, around 25%, he fails to equate with inflation.

In addition, scientists and scholars they do not have basic labor rights.

"Conicet does not recognize us as workers and workers. So we do not have a sick leave, maternity or Christmas bonus ", detailed researcher.

Dr. Urso pointed out that "the abrupt reduction of the science and technology budget is reflected in a deterioration of working conditions and wages, which jeopardizes the continuity of investigations"

Exodus of scientists

According to a study of Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)Argentina is the country of Latin America where more scientists and technicians contributed to the United States in the 1990s. This situation could be repeated today.

The crisis in the country is a "remake" of the brain drain that took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The system's failure causes an exodus of researchers who decide to look for work abroad with a salary in dollars.

The alarms sounded in 2018, when hundreds of scientists and researchers sent a letter to the president Mauricio Macri warning him that the Conicet "is on the verge of paralysis", jeopardizing 10,000 scientific jobs, 10,000 doctoral and postdoctoral fellows and nearly 3,000 technicians.

Despite the affirmation, which brought together the most prominent researchers in the country, the 2019 budget provides for an adjustment of funds in almost all areas, given the government's goal of reaching "zero deficit".

Other problems are related to the lack of project funding, which has a direct impact on ongoing investigations.

"Fellows and trainees are the reason for being the Conicet. If we stop to investigate, to work, basically the scientific and public research system of this country it does not fit, " Dr. Urso said.

The researcher also stressed that "reduction of the salary of the scientists and the youngest researchers in the country, they only make it impossible to develop lines of research. "

In addition, difficulties are encountered on a daily basis and in working conditions. "There is no regulation stating that our salaries are updated according to the equal number of state workers ", says Dr. Urso.

March to demand a salary increase

The Fellows and Fellows of Science and Technology will march Tuesday next February 26 at 10 o'clock. Scientific pole, ask the government for a salary increase. In addition, they indicated that they had not received the retroactive payment of the increase that other employees of the agency had collected.

On February 12, a day before the call for mobilization, the authorities confirmed the payment of the increase with the salaries of February and March (to be paid in March and April). This, far from defusing the conflict, angered him, because the postponement of the payment implied the loss of $ 2,000 for doctoral students and $ 2,400 for postdocs.

"The reason is clear: in a context marked by adjustment, rates, inflation and rising rents, scholars' salaries are not being met!" The basic basket for measuring poverty is $ 26,500, the trainees of the CONICET and the AGENCY charge $ 22,000, "says a statement from Young precarious scientists of Buenos Aires.