Argentina’s CGT has announced a nationwide strike for April 10 against President Milei’s government. The CGT advocates for the reopening of wage negotiations due to inflation impacting worker salaries. The strike follows planned protests and has garnered support from various labor unions, but government officials criticize the motivations behind it.
Argentina’s General Labor Confederation (CGT) has declared a nationwide strike set for April 10 against President Javier Milei’s Libertarian administration, following a prior protest on April 9. This strike marks the CGT’s third major action this year, with previous strikes held on January 24 and May 9, 2024.
The upcoming events include a rally to Congress on April 9, where workers and retirees will advocate for improved income and social security. Additionally, the CGT plans to participate in the Day of Memory march on March 24 and a significant event for Workers’ Day on May 1.
The CGT’s demands center around reopening collective wage negotiations (“paritarias”) due to salaries not keeping pace with inflation, a bonus for retirees, resumption of public works along with associated jobs, and an end to police violence against social protests.
Secretary-General Héctor Daer underscored that the strike is non-negotiable, citing increased worker dissatisfaction with declining wages and economic conditions. Tensions within the CGT have risen, as more moderate leaders align with radical groups advocating for the strike. “The fall in wages as from the end of last year caused the paritarias to fall below inflation,” Daer stated.
Support for the strike has been declared by transport unions, including lorry drivers, La Fraternidad, and Unión Ferroviaria, with pending confirmation from the UTA. Should subway workers decide not to participate, Buenos Aires subway services are expected to be severely disrupted.
In anticipation of the strike, Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos intends to engage CGT leaders, such as Daer and Gerardo Martínez, in negotiations to avert the strike but considers the prospect of success to be low. This strike is viewed as a reaction to recent protests and incidents of repression, including a recent event on March 12 where a photojournalist was injured.
Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni has labeled the strike a political maneuver aimed at undermining the government rather than addressing genuine labor concerns. “These strikes are to defend their own interests [of the union leaders],” Adorni remarked. He dismissed the legitimacy of the grievances, asserting, “There is nothing here that deserves a strike.”
The article outlines the imminent nationwide strike in Argentina spearheaded by the CGT, underscoring escalating worker grievances due to wage declines amid rising inflation. With substantial support from various labor unions, the strike aims to address crucial demands such as reopening collective wage negotiations and ending police repression. The government appears unlikely to successfully avert the strike, as officials criticize the motivations behind it.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
