Argentina's main labor union calls general strike against Milei's labor reform
The CGT has convoked a 24-hour national strike for the day the Chamber of Deputies debates the president's labor bill, already approved by the Senate.
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Argentina's main labor confederation, the Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT), has called a 24-hour general strike to coincide with the day the Chamber of Deputies debates President Javier Milei's labor reform bill, which has already passed the Senate, union sources announced Monday.
The strike will take place either Thursday, February 19, or Wednesday, February 25, depending on when the lower house schedules its debate on the legislation. The CGT's leadership made the decision following a virtual meeting among its co-chairs and specified that the general strike will proceed without street mobilization.
The proposed labor reform reduces severance payments for dismissals, permits compensation in kind through goods or services, extends the working day to 12 hours, and restricts the right to strike, among other provisions. The bill may be debated by deputies this week or next week.
The transport workers' confederation, grouped under the Unión Tranviarios Automotor (UTA), has announced it "fully supports the measure" and has pledged to paralyze land, air, and river passenger transport during the strike. The UTA's support signals broad participation from a key sector of the economy.
This action marks the fourth strike called against Milei's government policies. The labor movement's mobilization occurs amid growing social unrest, signs of economic recession, declining industrial activity, and a sharp drop in consumer spending. Union affiliates of the CGT have characterized the proposed changes as regressive.
One of the CGT's general secretaries, Cristian Jerónimo, had indicated the previous Sunday that "all conditions are in place to call a general strike."