Following the widespread support for the January General Strike against Argentina’s right wing president Javier Milei’s reforms unions are demonstrating that they are not willing to give up their employment and social rights.
The major focus of the campaign is against Milei’s DNU, (the mega reforms he is driving through the Argentinian parliament) which form the legal basis for the anti union and reform measures that the government has been taking.
They reforms have already been been rejected in the Senate and unions are in discussions with parliamentary deputies to get enough votes to reject the DNU in the Chamber of Deputies.
The Ministry Of Labour has been downgraded to a “secretariat” – the new Secretary of Labour is a lawyer from the Techint Group, and Milei have filled his government with representatives of multinational companies.
The Milei government is also privatising publically owned companies and Milei has signalled his intent to close down the state owned news agency Telam which unions say is an attack on information sovereignty and freedom of expression.
Unions are keeping the pressure on and there are on going sectoral strikes including a planned strike in the airline industry over Easter.
The next major event against Milei’s right wing and populist government is planned for March 24th the Day of Memory, Truth & Justice which will being together unions with social and human rights groups.
Thanks to Sol Calle in Argentina.