Buenos Aires, Argentina – Argentina’s largest union umbrella organization, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), announced yesterday that it would hold a 24-hour general strike in response to planned national labor reforms.
The CGT said it would begin the strike when the House of Representatives begins discussions on a sweeping labor law championed by right-wing President Javier Millais, expected to meet on Thursday, February 19.
The bill, which passed the Senate last Thursday, drew criticism from unions as it aims to make the workforce more flexible by reducing workers’ right to strike, capping severance pay and extending the working day.
CGT has not announced an official strike date, but several syndicates have announced plans for strikes and protests this Thursday.
“Resignation does not make history. This Thursday, we must bring the whole of Argentina to a standstill!” Rodolfo Aguiar, president of the powerful trade union National Workers’ Association, wrote:
The Argentine Transport Syndicate also said Thursday it would continue its strike, threatening to paralyze traffic in Buenos Aires.
Millais argues labor reforms are needed to revive Argentina’s long-stagnant economy, which he says will benefit business owners and also help end informal work. About 40% of Argentines are employed in the informal sector.
But the government faces strong opposition from both left-wing parties and unions. They said the bill would hit workers’ rights, forcing them to work longer hours for fewer benefits.
Milei’s ‘La Libertad Avanza’ or ‘Freedom Advances’ party had to amend the bill to get it through the Senate last week. In particular, the government eased measures targeting unions, including scrapping a proposal to abolish workers’ union contribution obligations.
However, the CGT is opposing the bill over plans to cut severance pay, extend the maximum working day from eight to 12 hours, allow payment in kind (for goods and services) and limit the right to strike.
“Holidays? What is that? We work every day. The only way forward is through capitalism, savings and hard work,” Mailay wrote on
In Buenos Aires, workers and business owners are divided over reforms.
Luis Alberto García, a Venezuelan Uber driver who fled to Argentina seven years ago, believes the reforms will help avoid a similar inflationary crisis that forced him to flee his home country.
“We’ve seen this happen in Venezuela. Socialism has driven the country into the ground. I think reforms will help improve the economy for everyone,” García said. Argentina Report.
But some say the problem is not labor regulation but inflation.
“How can we change the employment situation when the currency is at its lowest point? First, we have to control prices,” said Gonzalo Cruz, a shopkeeper in La Boca.
He believes it is impossible to reform the economy without people changing their behavior and blames the country’s chronic crisis on dishonesty.
“If there is no morality, if workers lie to their bosses and bosses exploit workers, the law doesn’t matter,” Cruz added.
Fixing Argentina’s economy after decades of failed reforms may require more than changing the law.
Featured image caption: Workers march during the Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice in Argentina, March 24, 2016.
Featured Image Credit: Mapep via Wikimedia Commons
