Argentina’s largest trade union, CGT, has announced a general strike for April 10, protesting police actions against pensioner support protests and demanding pension increases and an end to public works freezes. Recent austerity measures under President Milei have heavily impacted retirees, sparking escalating tensions and unrest in the country.
On March 21, 2025, Argentina’s largest trade union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), announced a general strike scheduled for April 10. This strike is a response to a recent police crackdown on a protest supporting pensioners that resulted in 45 injuries. Hector Daer, the union’s general secretary, emphasized that the strike will also advocate for an emergency pension increase and the termination of public works freezes implemented by President Javier Milei over the past 15 months.
Daer stated, “From midnight on the 10th, a 24-hour strike.” This work stoppage marks the third general strike since Milei assumed office in December 2023, during which he has proposed aggressive cuts to public expenditure in efforts to control inflation. Pensioners have been particularly affected by Milei’s austerity policies, which have contributed to a severe recession throughout 2024, albeit with a noticeable decrease in inflation rates.
Significantly, pension increases have lagged behind inflation, resulting in deteriorating living conditions for retirees. The situation has been further exacerbated by the government’s removal of price controls on essential medicines. Recently, during a protest outside parliament, numerous football fans joined pensioners, culminating in violent clashes with law enforcement that led to over 120 arrests and left a photojournalist in critical condition.
The government has characterized the demonstrators as “hooligans” and accused them of insurrection. The CGT’s planned strike underscores the growing unrest and dissatisfaction among Argentines regarding the current administration’s economic policies and their effects on the vulnerable population.
The CGT’s call for a general strike on April 10 is a direct reaction to government policies that have adversely affected pensioners amidst a climate of rising tensions between citizens and authorities. With calls for an emergency raise in pensions and an end to austerity measures, the strike reflects widespread discontent with President Milei’s administration. The recent violence during protests amplifies the urgency of addressing these critical social issues in Argentina.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
