BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A 24-hour strike launched on Wednesday by transportation unions in Argentina in opposition to President Javier Milei’s austerity measures blocked grain shipments at a significant hub and affected 1000’s because of the lack of working trains and airplanes.
Employees have been protesting a collection of layoffs in public companies by right-wing libertarian Milei whereas demanding greater wages, as the federal government pushes by means of with austerity measures to steadiness its accounts amid a significant financial disaster.
The strike was blocking ships from docking or departing from the grains ports in Rosario, a significant ports chamber introduced, hurting commerce in Argentina, the world’s largest soy meal exporter and a significant corn and wheat provider.
“The union responsible for tying and untying boats are not allowing them to dock or depart,” the top of the CAPyM chamber, Guillermo Wade, advised Reuters. “The rest of the port is working normally, loading ships and unloading trucks.”
The strike additionally affected actions on the ports of Buenos Aires, La Plata, Bahia Blanca and Rosario, in addition to waste assortment and air journey, delaying flights operated by state-run flag service Aerolineas Argentinas and different airways.
Some unions protested in opposition to Milei’s plans to denationalise Aerolineas Argentinas, which has diminished its workforce in latest months. Schooling unions demanding greater college budgets additionally joined the strike.
Buses have been the one mode of transport working usually as unions representing employees within the sector plan to hold out a separate strike on Thursday, as they negotiate a wage hike.
“I have to work and this is ruining me. I think the strike is wrong,” a employee interviewed by TV channel La Nacion+ mentioned whereas standing in a protracted line at a bus cease. “It took me an hour and a half to get here,” he added.
Omar Maturano, the top of a prepare conductors’ union, advised TV channel TN that the strike was the one approach the employees discovered to “fight back against (the government’s) economic and social policy.”
