Carlos Tomada
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alfonso Tomada is an Argentine
Peronist politician who serves as the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Tomada was appointed by former President Néstor Kirchner
, and reappointed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
.
neighborhood of Buenos Aires
to a family with a history of involvement in politics: his mother, a teacher, was a Socialist and daughter of a Socialist member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
, and his father was a Peronist lawyer. He played rugby
for the Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires
club, and at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
, was active in the Peronist Youth (the youth wing of the Justicialist Party
), and earned a law degree
in 1973. He and his wife, Clarisa, married in 1971 and had two sons.
As a lawyer, lecturer and trade unionist he has been involved in issues of employment and labour rights. He served as consultant to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme
, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
from 1986 onward, and from 1987 to 1989, served was National Director of Labour Relations. Tomada was named Professor of Labor Relations
at his alma mater in 1988, served as Department Dean, and taught at the National University of La Matanza
. Retaining his teaching post, he served a labor law advisor to the CGT
, the nation's largest trade union
, from 1989 to 1992. He acted as a labor dispute mediator
in subsequent years, and in 1997, was invited to the First World Summit of Labor Mediation.
President Eduardo Duhalde
appointed Tomada Secretary of Labor in 2002. He was a founding member of the Calafate Group, a think tank
organized with Governor Néstor Kirchner
in 1998, and on May 25, 2003, he was sworn in to the Cabinet in his current post as Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security by the newly elected President Kirchner.
Tomada headed the Front for Victory
(FpV) party list in 2007 for the election of National Deputies representing the city of Buenos Aires. He was elected in October 2007
; but forfeited his seat for a reappointment as Minister of Labor by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
. Serving both Kirchner administrations in this capacity, he became the longest-serving cabinet member since the advent of Kirchnerism
in 2003. His tenure was highlighted by the August 2004 establishment of the National Council on Employment, Productivity, and Minimum Wages, which he presides and which periodicially sets minimum wage
s and other labor guidelines. High inflation further underscored the importance of the council, which took part in numerous collective bargaining
talks between management and organized labor.
Tomada also served as President of the ILO Administrative Council in 2005 and 2006, and remained active in the ILO afterward. He announced his candidacy for Mayor of Buenos Aires in 2011 as a FpV candidate.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Peronist politician who serves as the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Tomada was appointed by former President Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, and reappointed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
.
Biography
Tomada was born in the PalermoPalermo, Buenos Aires
Palermo is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It is located in the northeast of the city, bordering the barrios of Belgrano to the north, Almagro and Recoleta to the south, Villa Crespo and Colegiales to the west and the Río de la Plata river to the east. With a total...
neighborhood of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to a family with a history of involvement in politics: his mother, a teacher, was a Socialist and daughter of a Socialist member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
, and his father was a Peronist lawyer. He played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
for the Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires
Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires, Gymnastics and Fencing of Buenos Aires , is a sports and social club headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina....
club, and at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Argentina...
. He enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
, was active in the Peronist Youth (the youth wing of the Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
), and earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
in 1973. He and his wife, Clarisa, married in 1971 and had two sons.
As a lawyer, lecturer and trade unionist he has been involved in issues of employment and labour rights. He served as consultant to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation is a German political foundation associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany , yet independent of it...
from 1986 onward, and from 1987 to 1989, served was National Director of Labour Relations. Tomada was named Professor of Labor Relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
at his alma mater in 1988, served as Department Dean, and taught at the National University of La Matanza
National University of La Matanza
The National University of La Matanza is an Argentine national university situated in La Matanza Partido, Buenos Aires Province.- History :The University was created under the National Law 23.748 on 23 October 1989...
. Retaining his teaching post, he served a labor law advisor to the CGT
General Confederation of Labour (Argentina)
The General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic is a national trade union centre of Argentina founded on September 27, 1930, as the result of the merge of the USA and the COA trade union centres...
, the nation's largest trade union
Trade unions in Argentina
Trade unions in Argentina have traditionally played a strong role in the politics of the nation. The largest trade union association, the Confederación General del Trabajo has been a force since the 1930s, and approximately 40% of workers in the formal economy are unionized.- The FORA :The...
, from 1989 to 1992. He acted as a labor dispute mediator
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
in subsequent years, and in 1997, was invited to the First World Summit of Labor Mediation.
President Eduardo Duhalde
Eduardo Duhalde
-External links:...
appointed Tomada Secretary of Labor in 2002. He was a founding member of the Calafate Group, a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
organized with Governor Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
in 1998, and on May 25, 2003, he was sworn in to the Cabinet in his current post as Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security by the newly elected President Kirchner.
Tomada headed the Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
(FpV) party list in 2007 for the election of National Deputies representing the city of Buenos Aires. He was elected in October 2007
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
; but forfeited his seat for a reappointment as Minister of Labor by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
. Serving both Kirchner administrations in this capacity, he became the longest-serving cabinet member since the advent of Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism is a term used to refer to the political philosophy and supporters of Néstor Kirchner, president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, and of his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President from 2007...
in 2003. His tenure was highlighted by the August 2004 establishment of the National Council on Employment, Productivity, and Minimum Wages, which he presides and which periodicially sets minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
s and other labor guidelines. High inflation further underscored the importance of the council, which took part in numerous collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
talks between management and organized labor.
Tomada also served as President of the ILO Administrative Council in 2005 and 2006, and remained active in the ILO afterward. He announced his candidacy for Mayor of Buenos Aires in 2011 as a FpV candidate.