In a significant display of opposition, Argentine unions have launched a 12-hour strike in the capital city of Buenos Aires to protest against President Javier Milei’s tough economic reforms. The demonstration, organized by the umbrella union, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), marks the strongest resistance to Milei’s spending cuts and privatisation plans since he assumed office last month with a promise to address the country’s staggering 211 percent inflation.
President Milei’s two major reforms, the “omnibus” bill currently going through Congress and a “mega-decree” aimed at deregulating the economy, have come under intense scrutiny. Union member and national opposition deputy Hugo Yasky voiced his concerns, stating on a local radio station that “Milei wants a country where poverty and informal work reaches 90 percent. Now there is no job creation. What there is now is widespread misery, people’s desperation, and there are no measures to mitigate the damage they are causing.”
Earlier today, the omnibus bill was approved by a committee in the lower congressional house, the Chamber of Deputies, further fueling the dissatisfaction among the striking workers. The mass strikes, which began at 12pm, have had a significant impact on transportation, banking services, hospitals, and public services. Local airlines have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights due to the scale of the demonstration.
Protesters at the strike held up placards with powerful messages such as “The homeland is not for sale” and “Eating is not a privilege.” A giant puppet of President Milei was also present, symbolizing the discontent with his policies. Another poster highlighted the plight of retirees, stating, “Today’s retirees are yesterday’s workers, stop robbing them!”
Lucia Newman, reporting from Buenos Aires, described the protest as “impossible” to quantify in terms of attendance due to its massive scale. She also highlighted the tense atmosphere and ongoing nature of the situation. However, she acknowledged the significant turnout so far.
The Milei government has defended its austerity measures, attributing them to years of overspending that have left the country burdened with substantial debts to both local and international creditors, including a $44 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund. Milei’s security minister and former presidential election rival, Patricia Bullrich, expressed determination in the face of the strike, writing on social media, “There is no strike that stops us, there is no threat that intimidates us. It’s mafia unionists, poverty managers, complicit judges, and corrupt politicians, all defending their privileges and resisting the change that society chose democratically.”
Javier Milei, an economist and former TV pundit, surprisingly won last year’s general election, propelling him into the presidency. The current strike serves as a strong message of discontent towards his administration and its economic policies.
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