The worker unions will try this Thursday to set a limit for the Government of Javier Milei. They will do so with a general strike, the second since the far-right president took office last December. The measure of force involves the main labor confederations in the country and has political support from Peronism and left-wing organizations. In rejection of the dismantling of the State, the labor reform and the adjustment promoted by Milei, the union leaders promise “a paralysis” that will affect the activity of land and air transport, state agencies, banks, businesses, health and teachers, among other professions. The Government responded by accusing union members of being “fundamentalists of backwardness” and announced that it would deduct the day not worked from public employees.
The 24-hour strike was called by the labor federations that bring together the vast majority of the country’s unions, most of them of Peronist origin: the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the two branches of the Central Workers of the Argentina (CTA), historically confronted with the first. The organizations had already stopped and mobilized against Milei’s first measures, a month and a half after his inauguration. Now, with a joint statement, the three federations called for a general strike “in defense of democracy, labor rights and a living wage” and harshly questioned the administration of the president who defines himself as “anarcho-capitalist.”
“We are facing a national government that promotes the removal of labor and social rights, which redefines the role of the State by closing and reducing to a minimum important agencies and institutions that provide assistance to our population, thus generating hundreds of thousands of layoffs. ”, noted the CGT, the Workers’ CTA and the Autonomous CTA. They also warned about the defunding of public works, social security, health, science and education. And they warned that, while the prices of food, medicines and essential services were released, salaries are “decreased in their purchasing power” as a result of inflation and salary negotiations are “intervened by the Ministry of Economy, which prevents adequate update”.
The Milei plan, they pointed out, is causing “recession”, “incessant increases” and a “fall in the levels of economic activity and basic consumption indices, which, in practice, represent a phenomenal transfer of resources to the most vulnerable sectors.” concentrated and privileged in the economy.”
The national strike will begin at midnight on Thursday. The unions announced that there will be no bus, train, taxi, or subway services, so it is expected that the measure will have a high impact. Air transport will also be affected; Airlines canceled and modified scheduled flights. Bank and retail workers confirmed their support for the strike, as well as teachers and healthcare personnel. Emergency care will be guaranteed in hospitals and health centers.
Milei’s government sought to minimize the strike and attacked the union leadership. “They stop the fundamentalists of backwardness, those who want to continue making Argentina a path of servitude,” said presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni. The general strike, he assured, will affect 6.5 million people who “will not have the essential transportation service available to go to work.” Unions, he insisted, “are only going to earn the contempt of all those who want and need to go to work.” The spokesperson considered that the force measure “has no apparent justification” and confirmed that “state workers who stop will be deducted for the day.” In turn, the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, announced that the police will guarantee “free movement” and will prevent “bridges from being taken or routes cut,” despite the fact that the call from the union centers, unlike the first strike general against Milei, does not include marches or demonstrations on public roads.
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