National strike in Argentina

Only 45 days after Argentina's new government took office, a national strike broke out in Latin America's third largest economy.

On January 24, 2024 local time, Argentina's major trade unions, left-wing organizations and civil economy organizations held a 12-hour national strike against the new policies enacted by the country's President Millet after his inauguration.

This was the first national strike since May 2019 in Argentina. A total of 500,000 people participated in the protests across the country, including 100,000 members of the police system and 40,000 government workers, according to the organizers.

Banks, hospitals, public transportation, garbage collection, postal services, ports, and commercial airline unions all joined the general strike, with Argentina's largest carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, canceling 295 flights and affecting about 20,000 passengers.

Spanish newspaper El País reported that the General Confederation of Labor estimated that 80 percent of its members nationwide (about 5 million people) complied with the strike initiative. The union also estimated that 600,000 people took part in the march in Buenos Aires, while 1.5 million people participated across the country.

In addition to the strike, the protests included a demonstration in front of the Congress building. 

In front of the National Congress building, the marchers demanded that Congress reject the Decree of Necessity and Urgency and the National Reform Bill, both issued by the government last December and currently under consideration by Congress, which provide for the modification or repeal of 366 laws regulating different sectors of the economy.

Since assuming the presidency, Millet has launched a series of "shock therapy" reforms aimed at rescuing the economy, with a view to reducing the fiscal deficit and controlling inflation.

After the introduction of a series of new policies, prices in Argentina have risen sharply. Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census released a report on the 11th, the country's 2023 December inflation rate of 25.5%, 2023 cumulative inflation rate of 211.4%, both hit the highest record since 1990.

Economy Minister Caputo, on the other hand, said that Argentina's inflation will remain at a high level for some time to come.

According to NABSA, Argentina's local maritime authority, the general strike in Argentina is affecting the operation of all ports.

Written by Mario