Macri administration faces unions' first general strike scheduled for April 6

Friday, March 17th 2017 - 07:38 UTC

Full article 4 comments

Argentina's largest union announced a one-day general strike on April 6, increasing pressure on President Mauricio Macri's conservative government six months before mid-term congressional elections. The CGT says Macri's policies, including austerity measures like reducing subsidies on fuel and electricity, are resulting in lower real salaries and lost jobs. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Enrique Massot
Here you go. After doing all they could to negotiate with the government and avoid concrete measures, the leaders of the Labour Confederation (CGT) have listened to workers' requests and announced the first general strike since Mauricio Macri assumed Argentina's presidency 15 months ago.

One of the declared goals of the union leaders is to obtain a “national productive emergency” leading to the creation of a “national production model” that would stimulate the domestic productive sector and mitigate the effects of the wide opening of imports.

Amazingly, the first reaction of the Macri government is to argue the strike seeks to hurt the government's chances in the October election. The accusation rings hollow because the CGT had never shied away from declaring strikes against the previous Cristina Kirchner government.

What is counter intuitive is the Macri administration inflexibility, demonstrated in a current conflict with the teachers, in an election year. Some analysts conclude that polls showing Macri's Cambiemos alliance is in trouble in Buenos Aires province don't worry the government, which trusts the support of powerful economic and media interests will allow it to continue with its plan of concentrating wealth and power in just a few hands as it was decades ago.
Mar 17th, 2017 - 03:36 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
-+
Briton
And the working classes suffer again.
Mar 17th, 2017 - 08:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Enrique Massot
@Briton

Just for clarity:

Are the working classes suffering again in your view because of,

a. The economic measures of the Macri government?
b. Demonstrations, strikes and other opposition activities to Macri's measures?
Mar 17th, 2017 - 09:59 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
-+
Briton
A-- seems appropriate,
but I could be wrong.
Mar 18th, 2017 - 08:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Enrique Massot
I believe you are right.

Mauricio Macri government enjoyed a one-year honeymoon during which he took a large number of economic measures, maneuvering to obtain approval for most of them even while being in the minority in goth Legislative chambers.

Now that the full brunt of those measures begin to eclipse a sanitized government narrative, Argentines begin a renewed fight against Macri's CEOs government.
Mar 18th, 2017 - 09:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!