President Javier Milei faced the first major challenge to his budget-slashing policies on Wednesday as workers downed tools en masse and took to the streets in protest.
Thousands had gathered by midday in the heart of Buenos Aires for what is expected to be the biggest demonstration in years, called by Argentina’s main union, the CGT (Confederación General del Trabajo) umbrella grouping, which counts on some seven million members.
Protesters, many of whom had travelled a long way to take part, bore placards reading: "The homeland is not for sale" and "Eating is not a privilege" as they marched to the beat of drums and exploding firecrackers, and held aloft a giant puppet in the image of Milei.
Another poster proclaimed: "Today's retirees are yesterday's workers, stop robbing them!"
Despite the Security Ministry’s insistence that its “protocol for maintaining public order in the event of road closures” was fully in force, some streets and thoroughfares were blocked.
Around midday, security forces and protesters were engaged in a lengthy stand-off at Puente Pueyrredón in Avellaneda, on the outskirts of the capital.
Milei took office in December after a campaign vowing to slash public spending.
Ten days after he came to power, the new president announced a set of sweeping reforms that lessened some worker protections, abolished a price ceiling on rent and lifted price controls on certain consumer goods.
More than 40 percent of the population lives in population and the country is battling annual inflation of 211 percent after decades of financial mismanagement.
"People are angry... nobody can deny it," said Héctor Daer, the joint leader of the CGT, which is aligned with Peronism, now in opposition.
Milei's reforms are also being challenged in court, with more than 60 lawsuits under way by labour unions, business chambers and NGOs, including the CGT.
One chapter of Milei's so-called "mega decree" on spending reforms – dealing with labour matters – has already been frozen by a court pending a review by Congress.
Among other things, it sought to increase the job probation period from three to eight months, reduce compensation in case of dismissal and cut pregnancy leave.
For the rest of the decree, the government is putting pressure on lawmakers for a quick adoption, but is facing some resistance from the opposition and its potential centre-right allies.
The CGT is among those challenging the constitutionality of the decree's labour chapter before the courts.
Won't 'yield an inch'
Wednesday’s main rally in the capital was outside Congress, where lawmakers are discussing Milei's package of deregulation and economic reform.
"We ask the deputies to have dignity and principles, not to betray the workers and the doctrine of Peronism, which is to defend those who have the least," said Daer, of the CGT, in his speech to the crowd.
Plaza de los Dos Congresos, the epicentre of the CGT march, was filled from early in the day.
Demonstrations were also called for numerous other cities and towns, even abroad in Madrid, Paris and Brussels.
The CGT has been joined by other, smaller unions and civic groups, vowing to "not yield an inch of what has been achieved" in terms of labour and consumer protections, according to CGT leader Pablo Moyano.
The nation’s second-largest labour grouping, the CTA (Confederación de Trabajadores Argentinos), also participated. Left-wing groups took part, though they marched as a separate column.
Members of the La Cámpora political youth organisation, which is linked to Kirchnerism, were also in attendance.
Several Peronist politicians were seen at the march, including former public works minister Gabriel Katopodis and Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof.
"I came just to show solidarity with the workers and for the retirees, because they [the government] want to subjugate our rights – we have to stop them," said Andrés Divisio, a 71-year-old retiree, as he demonstrated.
In Uruguay, the PIT-CNT – the nation’s largest trade union grouping – called for solidarity demonstrations in rejection of Milei's "anti-popular measures," which it said “threatens the lives, rights and freedom of workers and the Argentine people."
Air traffic was affected early by the strike, with state airline Aerolíneas Argentinas cancelling more than 260 flights, including international ones, "affecting more than 20,000 passengers" for a loss of about US$2.5 million, according to the company.
Banks closed early to customers in Buenos Aires, while public transport is scheduled to end at 7pm, potentially stranding tens of thousands of passengers.
Bullrich pre-empted turnout claims earlier in the day, insisting attendance would be low.
"How many are going to go to the march, 0.5 percent? It is typical, they repeat history to try to weaken governments,” she said in comments to the press.
"We won't be cornered by anyone, let alone a march of 30,000, 40,000 [people], when there are eight million self-employed workers and six million workers who want to work," she said as she left her house.
Government sources, quoted by the Noticias Argentinas news agency, said 100,000 demonstrators were expected by the Milei administration to turn out in the capital.
‘Does not stop!’
Security Minister Patricia Bullrich insisted in a post on social networks on Wednesday that "The country does not stop!" claiming that the "mobilisation is small compared to the number of people who have decided to go to work."
The government has vowed to stick to its reform plan, and Bullrich denounced "mafia labour unions, managers of poverty, complicit judges and corrupt politicians... who resist the change democratically decided by society."
"What Wednesday's strike will show you is that there are two Argentinas. There is an Argentina that wants to remain behind, in the past, in decadence," President Milei said earlier this week.
Speaking during a press conference prior to the beginning of the strike, Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni ruled out dialogue with CGT leaders, describing them as “people who try to complicate the life of the rest of the Argentines.”
Branding labour bosses “anti-democratic” and “anti-republican,” Adorni said there could be “no dialogue with those who do not want the country to move forward.”
"We are amazed by the speed they took to announce the strike, a record in Argentina. Today is a sad day, understanding that all the people who want to have a normal day are not going to be able to have it," said the spokesperson.
Political scientist Iván Schuliaquer said the march highlighted the "very strong" power of Argentina's "very articulated, very organised civil society" groups.
"In a very clear way, in general, it is mobilised against Milei," he added.
– TIMES/NA/AFP
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