Argentina’s CGT Union Calls General Strike in Response to Police Crackdown

Argentina’s largest trade union, CGT, has called for a general strike on April 10 in response to a police crackdown on pensioners’ protests. Union leader Hector Daer demands urgent pension raises and an end to public works freezes. The strike will mark significant public dissent against President Milei’s austerity measures, which have heavily impacted retirees.

On March 21, 2025, Argentina’s largest trade union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), announced a general strike scheduled for April 10. This action is a response to a police crackdown on a protest advocating for pensioners’ rights, resulting in 45 injuries. Hector Daer, the CGT’s general secretary, addressed the press emphasizing demands for an emergency pension increase and an end to the freeze on public works initiated by President Milei.

Daer stated, “From midnight on the 10th, a 24-hour strike,” indicating the urgency of the union’s demands. This upcoming work stoppage represents the third in a series of strikes since President Milei assumed office in December 2023, during which he has aggressively pursued austerity measures symbolized by his chainsaw image. Pensioners have particularly suffered under these measures, as Argentina faced a severe recession throughout 2024, despite a notable decrease in inflation rates.

Pensions have failed to keep pace with inflation over the past year, leading to deteriorated living conditions for retirees. This situation was exacerbated by the government’s elimination of price controls on essential medications. Recent protests have attracted significant public attention, with football fans joining pensioners outside Parliament last week, resulting in violent confrontations with police, over 120 arrests, and a critically injured photojournalist. The government has since branded the demonstrators as “hooligans” and accused them of sedition.

The CGT’s call for a general strike on April 10 reflects widespread discontent regarding the government’s austerity measures, particularly their impact on pensioners. With demands for pension increases and the resumption of public works amid ongoing public unrest, the situation in Argentina indicates escalating tensions between the government and labor organizations. As protests continue, the implications for social stability and economic policy remain significant.

Original Source: www.bssnews.net