Argentina’s Largest Trade Union Calls for Nationwide Strike Against Milei’s Austerity Policies
Argentina’s largest labor union, the CGT, has called for a general strike on April 10—the third such action against President Javier Milei’s government in 15 months.
CGT General Secretary Héctor Daer announced on Thursday that the strike will include 36 hours of union-led protests, starting with demonstrations on April 9, followed by a nationwide 24-hour work stoppage.
The union is demanding urgent pension increases, the revival of halted public infrastructure projects, protections for the manufacturing sector, and an end to what it describes as excessive police crackdowns on protests.
The CGT, historically aligned with the center-left Peronist movement, previously led two nationwide strikes: one in January against Milei’s sweeping deregulation measures and deep public spending cuts, and another in May, focused on workers’ rights and wage protections.
The April 10 strike comes after violent clashes on March 12 between police and demonstrators protesting pension cuts, marking the most intense social unrest since Milei took office. The protests, initially a peaceful weekly gathering of retirees, escalated when football supporters joined, resulting in 45 injuries (20 police officers and 25 civilians) and over 120 arrests.
The growing social tension comes as Milei’s government seeks a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to refinance national debt. While the government touts its success in curbing inflation—from 211% at the end of 2023 to 66% today—critics argue that this has come at a severe social cost due to aggressive austerity measures.
Reacting to the strike announcement, a presidential spokesperson dismissed the move on X, stating: “The past that no one wants is calling for a strike that no one wants either.”
