CGT Announces General Strike Against Milei’s Austerity Policies on April 10
Argentina’s largest labor union, CGT, has called for a general strike on April 10 against President Javier Milei’s austerity measures. The strike will include 36 hours of protests, focusing on demands for pension increases, public project revivals, and protections for the manufacturing sector. This comes after serious clashes on March 12, highlighting rising social unrest amid Milei’s economic strategies and negotiations with the IMF for debt refinancing.
Argentina’s largest labor union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), has declared a general strike scheduled for April 10, marking the third such protest against President Javier Milei’s administration within 15 months. This strike will initiate with 36 hours of organized protests, commencing on April 9, followed by a national work stoppage lasting 24 hours.
The CGT has delineated several demands, which include urgent pension increases, the revival of suspended public infrastructure projects, robust protections for the manufacturing sector, and an end to what is characterized as excessive police actions against protestors. Historically, the CGT has been connected to the center-left Peronist movement and has previously orchestrated two nationwide strikes: one in January addressing deregulation and spending cuts, and another in May, emphasizing workers’ rights and wage protections.
The upcoming general strike is particularly significant following violent confrontations between police and demonstrators on March 12, during protests against pension cuts. These demonstrations started as peaceful gatherings among retirees but escalated when football fans became involved, resulting in numerous injuries and over 120 arrests, highlighting the escalating social unrest.
Simultaneously, Milei’s administration is negotiating a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to manage national debt. While the government claims success in reducing inflation—from 211% at the end of 2023 to 66% today—critics contend that this has occurred at a grave social cost through stringent austerity measures. In response to the announcement of the strike, a presidential spokesperson remarked that “the past that no one wants is calling for a strike that no one wants either.”
The CGT’s strike announcement underscores mounting tensions surrounding President Javier Milei’s austerity policies and their impact on the populace. With demands for pension increases and protections for workers, the union’s actions reflect significant discontent towards the government’s approach to economic management. The union’s historical influence and the recent violence during protests indicate that the political climate in Argentina remains volatile and fraught with challenges.
Original Source: al24news.com
