Argentina’s General Labor Confederation (CGT) is planning a 24-hour general strike before April 10 against President Javier Milei’s government, addressing concerns over low wages, police repression, and IMF debt. Daer announced this after violent protests led to numerous arrests, while other leaders emphasized the need to defend workers’ rights and social justice amid increasing government repression.
The General Labor Confederation (CGT) of Argentina has announced a planned 24-hour general strike against President Javier Milei’s government. Héctor Daer, a CGT official, shared this decision during a meeting at CGT’s headquarters on Thursday, targeting the event to take place before April 10. “What we agreed by consensus is to hold a 24-hour strike before April 10,” Daer noted, adding that fixed-income workers are particularly affected by current economic conditions.
On March 20, the CGT’s board will meet to finalize the strike’s details, addressing issues such as police repression, low wages, layoffs, and economic policies including wage suppression and increased debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Daer confirmed their meeting, stating, “On Thursday next week, we are going to have a meeting of the Board of Directors of our CGT.”
The announcement of the strike follows violent incidents at a retirees’ protest near the National Congress, leading to over 120 arrests and nearly 50 injuries, which have sparked serious backlash against governmental repression. The plenary coincided with the commemorative first national “Pope Francis” Congress, marking the election anniversary of former Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope.
If executed, this strike will mark the third against Milei’s administration, following protests held on January 24 and May 9 of the previous year. The CGT, alongside various social movements, seeks to address a range of issues including pension rights, the decline of industries, and threats to deregulation.
From Daer’s perspective, the current administration is damaging wages and industries while exacerbating layoffs. He expressed concerns regarding the implications of further IMF borrowing. Additionally, he criticized the government for not being deterred in promoting policies that contravene longstanding societal consensus, such as efforts to eliminate gender policies and redefine femicide laws.
UTEP Secretary-General Alejandro Gramajo defended retirees by stating, “The claim of the retirees is fair and genuine,” and criticized the governmental repression. He emphasized that the “model of cruelty, hunger, and misery has an expiration date, and that date will be set by the working people.” Furthermore, Gramajo recognized Pope Francis’s role in advocating for the underprivileged and the relevance of social justice.
Notable attendees at the UTEP convention included prominent union leaders like Hugo Moyano and Andrés Rodríguez, as well as human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel.
The CGT’s upcoming 24-hour general strike showcases widespread discontent towards government policies under President Javier Milei. Significant points of concern include wage suppression, layoffs, and police repression amidst economic challenges. This event symbolizes collective efforts by labor organizations to stand against perceived governmental injustices, further ignited by recent aggressive police actions. The anticipated strike underscores ongoing debates surrounding social justice and the rights of the working class in Argentina.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
