Argentine teachers stop in several districts amid growing social conflict

2024-02-26 16:06:02

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — In the midst of Argentine President Javier Milei’s confrontation with different sectors over his adjustment policies, teachers from eight districts carried out a strike on Monday during the start of the school year to demand salary improvements and once morest the reduction from a state fund that improved their income.

The 24-hour strike in the districts that began classes following the summer break was called by the Confederation of Education Workers of the Argentine Republic (Ctera), the main teaching center, and was followed in a disparate manner in public schools in the city ​​of Buenos Aires and the provinces of Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Mendoza, San Luis and Santa Fe.

The union questions the government’s delay in starting negotiations to define the basic salary of teachers. The Executive called the parties on Tuesday, with classes already started, to agree on the national framework for the minimum teacher salary together with the Ministers of Education of all the districts and the unions of the sector.

Teachers demand a salary improvement that compensates for the loss of purchasing power caused by accumulated inflation in December and January of more than 46%.

The strike was also called in rejection of the official decision to eliminate the National Teacher Incentive Fund, an additional component of salaries that is financed with state resources.

In his more than two months of government, the ultra-orthodox Milei carried out a drastic cut in public spending to achieve balance of accounts and a 54% devaluation of the peso. He also enabled the increase in transportation rates and gas and electricity services and suspended price controls, triggering the rise in the cost of living and poverty levels.

The adjustment measures, combined with salary increases considered insufficient by the unions, have heated up social conflict.

Milei’s government faced a general strike in January, which was followed by walkouts by unions representing passenger train drivers and health workers. On Wednesday, unions of workers from the state-owned Aerolíneas Argentinas are expected to cease their activities in rejection of the government’s proposal for a salary increase of around 12%.

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