General Strike Disrupts Transport Across Argentina

Transport services shut down amid protests as Argentines express their discontent with government spending cuts.

 

A general strike has brought major disruptions to transport across Argentina, with public outcry against recent government spending cuts resonating nationwide. In Buenos Aires, the country’s capital, all domestic flights were canceled, alongside the suspension of train services and metro operations. While many shops remained closed, bus drivers continued their work, ensuring some level of service amidst the chaos. International flights, however, saw minimal delays and remained on schedule, indicating that certain sectors of the transport industry found a way to maintain operations despite the strike.

This strike marked the third disruption organized by powerful labor unions since President Javier Milei assumed office at the end of 2023. Following his inauguration, Milei implemented stringent austerity measures aimed at alleviating hyperinflation, which had arisen to unprecedented levels. Despite the president’s claims that inflation rates have decreased from over 200% to about 60%, opposing voices highlight that the most vulnerable segments of the population, such as pensioners and low-wage workers, have borne the brunt of these measures.

The austerity plan has included drastic cuts in subsidies for critical services such as transportation, fuel, and energy, along with the dismissal of tens of thousands of public employees and shuttering of government departments. Horacio Bianchi, a retired teacher in Buenos Aires, voiced the struggles faced by citizens, stating, “They don’t have enough money to eat.” His sentiment echoed widespread frustration over increasing economic hardships.

Support for pensioners, heavily impacted by the cuts to their funds, stirred a peaceful demonstration leading up to the strike on Wednesday. However, the tone turned violent previously as onlookers, including fans from local sports clubs, clashed with law enforcement during earlier protests.

The government now anxiously awaits a decision on a new $20 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), atop an existing $44 billion debt. The U.S. Treasury recently acknowledged that President Milei’s actions could steer the nation away from economic crisis, with Secretary Scott Bessent visiting Buenos Aires Monday in support of these reforms.