Workers at the National Institute of Industrial Technology in Salta decided to remain at the office on 822 Durañona Avenue after being verbally told to vacate the building and continue their duties through remote work.
Cecilia Belistri, the ATE delegate at the institute, said the message was delivered during a video call led by INTI's Regional Operations Deputy Manager for north-west Argentina, Ramiro Casoliba. According to her, the 25 employees have not received any written resolution or administrative order.
The dispute began after a 1 March letter signed by Carlos Mateo, the appointed head of Salta's General Agency for Industrial Parks and Areas, terminating a loan agreement signed with INTI in September 2023. Workers argue that the request referred to an adjacent plot already returned, not to the main building.
On 30 June, Casoliba informed the provincial agency in writing that INTI would comply with the contractual deadlines and return the property in full. The letter set 3 July 2026 as the deadline for removing assets and completing ongoing work.
ATE also challenged the move to remote work because the office contains technical and administrative departments, a laboratory, specialised equipment and institutional records. Staff said they had received no information about the destination of those assets or the continuation of technological services provided to companies, industries and public agencies in Salta.
The union argues that the measure conflicts with a federal court injunction that suspended the national restructuring of INTI for six months. It therefore filed an administrative appeal with the institute's authorities and a letter to the provincial government seeking confirmation of any formal request to return the property.
Workers declared a state of alert and decided to continue working at the site until they receive an official notice and a judicial decision. National INTI authorities had not issued a public response.
