General strike paralyzes Argentina against Milei’s labor reform

Argentina is on general strike this Thursday (19). Workers hold protests across the country against far-right president Javier Milei’s labor reform, approved the previous week. The call for strike was made by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Central Argentine Workers (CTA).

The general strike, initially expected to last 24 hours, is a response to the setback led by the Milei government and approved by the Senate. This Thursday, the Argentine Chamber of Deputies is expected to vote on the project. Centrals and popular movements are preparing large marches towards the Argentine National Congress, in the capital Buenos Aires.

Workers have paralyzed the country and are on the streets to show parliamentarians that they vehemently reject the proposal, which reduces rights and employment protection, while expanding employers’ powers.

Read more: Senate approves Milei’s reform amid repression and protests

The mobilizations have strong support from popular organizations and unions linked to transport and ports. Buses, trains and subways are stopped.

Aerolíneas Argentinas, the state-owned company that Milei is trying to privatize, canceled 255 flights, impacting 31 thousand passengers. Companies such as Latam and Gol, which also operate flights from Brazil to the neighboring country, canceled flights as workers at Intercargo (the company responsible for ramp services at Argentine airports) joined the strike.

Even the Argentine football championship was paralyzed due to the strike. Four matches were postponed: Independiente x Independiente Rivadavia; San Lorenzo x Estudiantes de Río Cuarto; Defensa y Justicia x Belgrano; and Instituto x Atlético Tucumán.

This general strike is considered the largest ever carried out during the Milei government. The great popular support is due to the draconian reform, which, among other aspects, makes working hours more flexible and allows daily working hours of up to 12 hours.

The reform also reduces compensation and facilitates dismissals; reduces the fight against informality by eliminating fines; extends the trial period to up to six months (up to 12 in some categories); and also reduces sick leave and payments in cases of workplace accidents.

Another point that causes dissatisfaction is the restriction on strikes, with the minimum requirement of 50% to 75% presence of workers for sectors considered essential. Furthermore, the measure aims to weaken national collective agreements by replacing them with direct negotiations between local unions and companies.

Read more: Milei sinks Argentine industry and country becomes hostage to speculation

During the vote in the Senate last week, the workers were cowardly repressed by the police. Scenes of attacks were recorded and dozens of people were arrested.

But while the country is buzzing with voting and protests, Milei is this Thursday with the President of the United States, in Washington, with representatives from 40 countries in the infamous “Peace Council”, to debate the issue of Gaza.

During the meeting pejoratively dubbed “Trump’s UN”, the US president stated that the group intends to address peace throughout the world, not just in the Middle East. However, Trump’s positions with this group are still uncertain. This is Milei’s fourteenth visit to the USA during his just over two years in office.