Argentina’s largest labor union, CGT, has announced a general strike for April 10 to protest a police crackdown on pensioner support protests that left 45 injured. The strike will also demand pension increases and an end to public spending freezes imposed by President Milei. This marks the third strike since Milei took office in December 2023, amidst significant austerity measures and a recession.
On March 21, 2025, Argentina’s foremost labor union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), announced a general strike set for April 10. This action is in response to a recent police crackdown on protests supporting pensioners, which resulted in 45 injuries. CGT’s General Secretary, Hector Daer, emphasized the strike will demand an emergency pension increase and call for an end to public work project freezes imposed by President Javier Milei over the past 15 months.
During a press conference, Daer declared that the strike would commence at midnight on April 10 and last for 24 hours. This will mark the third such work stoppage since President Milei’s election in December 2023, during which he has pursued extensive public spending cuts symbolized by his iconic chainsaw. These austerity measures have significantly affected pensioners, pushing Argentina into a lengthy recession throughout 2024, despite a noticeable decrease in inflation.
Pension benefits have lagged behind inflation, exacerbating the declining living conditions for retirees, notably worsened by the government’s removal of price controls on essential medicines. Last week, a protest that included football fans alongside pensioners culminated in violent encounters with police, resulting in over 120 arrests, and leaving a photojournalist critically injured. The government has denounced the demonstrators as “hooligans” and accused them of acting in sedition.
The CGT’s call for a general strike on April 10 is a direct response to the government’s controversial policies and recent police actions against pensioners. The situation reflects broader discontent with the austerity measures introduced by President Milei, as pensioners have seen their living conditions decline sharply. This upcoming strike emphasizes the urgency of addressing these economic challenges and the government’s approach to public welfare.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
