Union leaders and workers Argentina declared a strike this Wednesday, 3rd, and tried to enter ministerial buildings of the government of Javier Milei in protest against the mass dismissal of public servants over the weekend. The mobilizations began in front of the Ministry of Labor, in Buenos Airesand spread to other Argentine public buildings.
The Milei government ordered a special operation by the Federal Police through the minister of public security, Patrícia Bullrich, to prevent protesters from invading the buildings and confirmed the dismissals, as announced last week. According to the government, 15,000 temporary employment contracts ended in March and were not renewed.
The protests were led by the State Workers Association (ATE), which took a stance against the measure last week. “We have to show that it is the Government that acts outside the Constitution and the law”, declared the general secretary of the national ATE, Rodolfo Aguiar, in X, before the protest.
Tensions between protesters and federal forces were greatest at the headquarters of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (Inadi), closed by Milei. The strikers, including employees fired over the weekend, clashed with members of the Federal Police, who had stood guard behind turnstiles, and managed to enter the building after exchanging pushes and insults.
The biggest demonstrations took place at the Ministry of Labor, where around 600 employees were fired. Hundreds of strikers and union leaders gathered in front of the ministerial building to protest against the government. “A message of unity has to come from here. Here we are building a general strike. We have to build from below because no one can save themselves”, said the leader of the Argentine Workers’ Central, Hugo Yasky.
Government spokesman Manuel Adorni said protesters who “acted outside the law” would be punished with legal action. “Anyone who is involved in any episode or act outside the law will have its consequences,” he said at a press conference this Wednesday, in which he confirmed the dismissal of the employees.
According to Adorni, the dismissals are part of the plan to streamline the State, implemented by Milei since the beginning of his government, in December. “We have repeatedly talked about this, there is not much more to say, it is part of the work we do to shrink the State,” he declared.
Javier Milei declared last week that the layoffs would affect 70,000 public servants, but, according to his spokesperson, this number is not guaranteed. An audit is underway to assess further layoffs in the future.
Tags: Servers police clash Argentina protest Mileis dismissals
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