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Argentine workers stage nationwide strike

Tuesday, 03 March 2015 7:14 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 03 March 2015 7:13 AM ]

A man takes a picture during an anti-Government demonstration called on by the Union Workers (CGT), Argentine Workers Confederation (CTA), leftist parties and farmers and social organizations in Buenos Aires, on December 19, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata

Manoel Giffoni
Press TV, Buenos Aires

Following 3 months of unsuccessful collective bargaining negotiations, 240,000 state workers decided to step up pressure on the government and staged a nationwide strike to demand a pay rise so that their wages catch up Argentina's double-digit inflation.The industrial action hit all the government departments and agencies in 23 districts with the health system suffering the most.

According to the Inter-American Development Bank, the IDB, the Argentine State is the largest employer of Argentina and almost 2 out of 10 workers are public employees. That accounts for the highest rate of Latin America. The IDB report also shows that Argentina pays the highest salaries of the region and President Cristina Kirchner highlighted such achievement in her recent state-of-the-nation speech, however workers disagree.

Over 100 hospitals joined the strike and turned away millions of patients. The education sector was also hit by the job action and teachers announced demonstrations for the coming days.

The Argentine workers grievances are on the rise as inflation in the country hits record high levels. Unions staged two general strikes in 2014 to demand stronger measures to curb skyrocketing prices and social leaders anticipate a troubled 2015 as those demands were not met.

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