The General Confederation of Labor (CGT, by its Spanish initials) announced a 24-hour general strike for Thursday to protest President Javier Milei’s labor reform, which the lower house is expected to debate that day.

The widespread measure was announced during a CGT press conference and confirmed through a statement on Wednesday, saying the goal is to protest against not only the labor reform, but also the “socioeconomic situation” Argentina is facing.

“The economic model has failed,” said Cristian Jerónimo, one of the three CGT leaders. “Argentina will come to a complete halt.”

On Wednesday, deputies will carry out a commission meeting to take the required steps to summon a session at the chamber’s floor for Thursday.

All unions that are part of the CGT, Argentina’s largest union federation, will join the strike set to begin on Thursday at 00 a.m., the leaders of the organization said during a press conference at their headquarters on Wednesday.

Last week, the CGT marched to Congress to protest the labor reform while the senate was debating it, but did not call for a strike. On Thursday, the idea is to carry out a strike with no demonstrations in order to show the scope of the measure.

“The picture we are looking for will show no people on the streets,” said top CGT member Héctor Daer at the press conference.

Several services will not be operational during the duration of the strike, including flights, airport operations, trains, buses, banks, shops and more.

Cruise ships, as well as those dedicated to exports, is also on halt due to a 48-hour strike from unions representing captains and maritime workers, which began on Wednesday. Cruise ships cannot enter or leave the Argentine shore, as port workers are not providing assistance for them to do so.

The maritime protest responds to the fact that the labor reform bill excludes the merchant marine from having protection from a law that regulates labor contracts.

Representatives of unions from a wide range of sectors were present at the press conference, standing behind the three CGT leaders, including those from bank, trains, universities, press, public works unions, and more.

“The CGT is not against a labor modernization, but not one that means losing rights” said Jorge Sola, one of the federation’s leaders, during the press conference. He stated that they have handed proposals to the government regarding reforms related to modernizing labor processes and incorporating new technology, but that they were not invited to negotiate in this instance.

Sola said that the main reasons they reject the labor reform are because it goes against the workers’ individual and collective rights, and that it is unconstitutional.

“This bill is completely regressive, and only seeks to take rights away from workers,” Cristian Jerónimo said. “It has a clear bias against unions.”

In a statement, the CGT said that the reform “will deepen labor precariety and degrade life quality,” as well as “worsen all existing problems related to labor in Argentina.”

© Buenos Aires Herald