Labour tensions erupt as Milei faces three strikes in a week

Argentina’s capital will be paralysed by transport strikes in the coming days as labour unrest against President Javier Milei’s government grows.

On Tuesday, the ATE state-workers union pulled its workers off the job. On Wednesday, nearly all transport unions will strike, leaving only buses running in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, before bus-drivers’ unions take their turn on Thursday,

Two of the three planned strikes are promoted by trade unions most opposed to President Milei’s government. The UTA bus-workers' union is more focused on a wage dispute with companies in the sector.

The week of strikes takes place in the midst of the internal conflict within Peronism, the political space to which most of the unions are aligned.

The ATE strike on Tuesday began at noon and was set to last 36 hours. State workers have staged a number of measures against Milei’s government given the amount of layoffs at various state agencies and bodies, some of which have been completely shuttered.

ATE chief Rodolfo Aguiar said this week that workers “can’t stand this government anymore” and had to “deepen the plan of struggle” before Milei takes away their constitutional “right to fair pay.”

Wednesday morning will see a 24-hour transport strike observed by all forms except buses, with workers set to march to the offices of the Deregulation & State Transformation Ministry headed by Federico Sturzenegger.

Its impact will be felt nationwide, with no overground train, Subte underground metro, air or sea transport services. Truckers and teamsters will also be observing the strike.

Only bus lines controlled by the UTA union – which did not join the strike called by the National Transport Board due to historical differences with other union leaders – will be running.

The strike was called to protest “the austerity promoted by the government of Javier Milei, the increase in fares after the removal of subsidies, the attempt to privatise [state airline] Aerolíneas Argentinas, the attack on pensioners and in rejection of the increase in poverty,” according to a communiqué.

Meanwhile, on Thursday it will be the turn of the UTA bus drivers union, who will stage their own action over a wage dispute. 

Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni on Tuesday criticised union leaders for sparking tensions, slamming them as “the privileged, those who can afford to stop.”

He accused them of ignoring “good, working Argentines who want to live in a better country.”

– TIMES/NA