Argentina’s biggest trade union, CGT, has announced a general strike for April 10 to protest against a police crackdown on a pensioners’ protest that injured 45 people. The strike will also demand pension increases and an end to the public works freeze. Hector Daer stated the strike would begin at midnight and marks the third strike since Milei’s tenure, during which austerity measures have worsened conditions for 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 labor action is aimed at protesting against the police crackdown on a recent demonstration supporting pensioners, which resulted in 45 injuries.
Hector Daer, the General Secretary of CGT, outlined that the strike will demand an emergency increase in pensions and the cessation of the public works freeze imposed by President Javier Milei over the past 15 months. Daer emphasized, “From midnight on the 10th, a 24-hour strike,” during a press conference.
This upcoming strike will mark the third similar action since President Milei assumed office in December 2023, advocating for significant cuts in public expenditure to address inflation. The austerity measures implemented under Milei have significantly impacted pensioners, leading to a sharp decline in their living conditions as pension increases have not kept pace with inflation.
The government’s decision to lift price controls on medications has exacerbated the situation for retirees. Recently, a protest outside of parliament involved numerous football fans standing in solidarity with pensioners, which escalated into violent confrontations with police, resulting in over 120 arrests and a critically injured photojournalist. The government has labeled the instigators as “hooligans” and accused them of engaging in sedition.
The call for a general strike by Argentina’s largest trade union poignantly underscores the rising tensions between citizens and the government regarding austerity measures and public safety. The ongoing protests reflect deep dissatisfaction with the treatment of pensioners and the administration’s approach to economic recovery. As the strike date approaches, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the demands of the unions and the wider public.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
