The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) today expressed its support for the general strike on 24 January called by the Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT) in Argentina in opposition to draconian laws being introduced by the new president, Javier Milei.
The Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) includes more than 300 measures to deregulate the economy and violate labour rights. It intends to privatise state companies such as the state-owned airline Aerolíneas Argentinas, thereby threatening jobs and services. It will also abolish the right to protest, attacking the freedom of expression of unions and civil organizations, in order to weaken them.
The CGT, which brings together the majority of those Argentinian unions affiliated to the ITF, has called a national general strike on Wednesday 24 January, in rejection of the DNU and the Omnibus law, the day before the vote on it in Parliament.
In calling the strike CGT said: “We condemn policies that support the criminalization of social protest in Argentina.” All three major union federations, the CGT, the CTA-T, and the CTA-A, are backing the general strike.
Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the ITF said: “Let’s be clear – we view the introduction of these laws by the Milei Government to be a ruthless attack on trade unions. Trade unions across the world provide an essential service to their members in protecting their rights at work, fighting against attacks to their pay and conditions, keeping them safe at work. All of that and more is under threat with these measures.”
Paddy Crumlin, President of ITF said: “Across the union movement we often use the phrase ‘an injury to one is an injury to all.’ They are not just words. They are an expression of solidarity from across the globe. That’s why on Wednesday the ITF will be joining demonstrations outside Argentinian embassies to send a very clear message to President Milei that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Argentina.”
Edgar Díaz, Regional Secretary of ITF Americas said: “The rally on Wednesday must be a massive one to halt this full-frontal attack on the working class and on democracy as a whole. We declare our complete solidarity with Argentinean workers; they are not alone.”
Full CGU statement here
Media contact: Siân Manaz +44 (0)7850 736145 <manaz_sian@itf.org.uk>
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions from 147 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice for nearly 20 million working women and men in the transport industry across the world.
