Thousands of citizens took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday to hold two parallel demonstrations demanding greater government accountability and action to address “intolerable levels” of inflation.
One group of protesters led by Peronist trade union leaders marched from the Obelisk monument to Congress in rejection of “price makers and speculation,” while another mobilisation, led by left-wing social organisations, advanced to Plaza de Mayo.
In the day-long demonstrations, which were largely peaceful, workers unions, led mainly by the Central General de Trabajadores (CGT) and the Central de Trabajadores Argentinos (CTA), simultaneously march to “denounce those who take a plate of food from Argentine workers.” This group of demonstrators blamed inequitable wealth distribution and “financial speculation” by business sectors for “intolerable levels” of inflation, which they say have “pulverised the purchasing power of the workers.”
Protests in Argentina have erupted. More than 35,000 people took to the streets to protest a 79%/yr inflation rate by my measure. Take a look at the chaos:pic.twitter.com/T6c4UmrYGN
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) August 13, 2022
In this regard, the unions demanded a “new social contract,” urging “all social actors [...] to find a joint solution” to Argentina’s economic woes, They cautioned, however, that the march “was not called against anyone, and represented a wake-up call on inflation” as protesters chanted slogans of “First the Homeland.”
CGT leader Pablo Moyano asserted that “the workers will back the fight against the leaders of the Argentine Business Association, who raise prices,” and called on President Alberto Fernández’s government to “confront the powerful,” while denouncing businesses’ “financial coup” to accrue profits at the cost of the poorer sections.
The sentiment was echoed by Héctor Daer, another CGT leader, who emphasised that the demonstrations were “in defence of [the] wages and rights” of the working class. He argued that the need of the hour is “firm commitments (by the government) to mitigate the social injustice that suffocates” the most vulnerable. Daer added that the objective of Wednesday’s march, which was joined by various pro-government groups, was to “generate the necessary muscle to solve problems in favour of the most vulnerable sectors,” stressing that it was “not an ultimatum” to the government.
Alfonsín sufrió 13 paros, De La Rúa 8, Macri 5 y Fernandez ninguno.
— Ricardo Buryaile (@BuryaileRicardo) August 17, 2022
En julio de 2019 el salario promedio era de $1432 dólares, hoy es de $467.
La CGT dejó de representar a los trabajadores ante el Estado, para ser delegados del Gobierno frente a los trabajadores. pic.twitter.com/mb3sP58JZ1
The unions are demanding greater formalisation of the workforce, bonuses and fixed incomes, and universalisation of the Universal Child Allowance (AUH) to registered employees.
Meanwhile, the left-wing groups organised a parallel march to demonstrate against the government’s “adjustment” measures, under which it is obliged to follow the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) guidelines to reduce social spending.
In this respect, leftist leader Myriam Bregman denounced the government’s “neoliberal plan to remain tied to the IMF” to the detriment of the Argentine people. This was seconded by Railway Union Deputy head Nicolas del Caño, who criticised the government’s recent interest rate increase to control money supply as a measure “that adds fuel to the fire of inflation.” In the same vein, he condemned the CGT and CTA, who he said had woken up from their “eternal nap to march in support of the adjustment government and the IMF.”
Si vas a amenazar, espero que estes dispuesto a proceder @pablomoyano_ok. El pueblo ya se cansó del apriete sindical y de la mafia de la familia Moyano. A todos ustedes les queda poco, van a terminar presos.pic.twitter.com/CVSyIllGJr
— Ramiro Marra (@RAMIROMARRA) August 17, 2022
Furthermore, leftist representative Mario Negri alleged that the CGT does not “represent the workers, they defend the interests of rich leaders.”
The left-wing groups demand, among other things, an “immediate” increase in salaries, with a guaranteed minimum wage of 170,000 pesos ($8,500 approximately) yearly, up from the present roughly $5,500, enhanced pensions and other social plans that are adjusted to inflationary pressures, and a guarantee that no family lives below the poverty line.
Wednesday’s demonstrations come against the backdrop of heightened frustrations as the country battles an inflation rate of up to 70%, a poverty rate of 40%, poor working conditions in the informal sector, and rising income disparity, all of which have been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic slowdown.
Ya estamos en Plaza de Mayo junto al @sitrarepa, a @ChinoHeberling y a @federicowinokur en la movilización de los sectores sindicales clasistas y la izquierda contra el ajuste del gobierno, en defensa de las paritarias, por salario mínimo de $170.000 y contra la precarización. pic.twitter.com/AoRzRHE5vW
— Manuela Castañeira (@ManuelaC22) August 17, 2022
Against this backdrop, a report from the National Ministry of Labor and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) notes that Argentina has witnessed over 200 strikes per 100,000 inhabitants between 2010 and 2020. It further highlights that Argentina is 14 times more ‘conflictive’ than the global average, wherein periodic disruptions due to public uprisings have impeded economic productivity.
The public administration, health, and education were the most vulnerable sectors and have respectively witnessed 3,600, 1,900, and 1,300 strikes over the last decade, much higher than the global average. This recurrent unrest has not only caused real wages to go down but also impacted social welfare programs.
Argentina workers from the tire industry stage protests throughout Argentina. Today 3 factories were picketed from workers demanding fair remuneration, payment for days worked on weekends. #Argentina #Protest #support #news pic.twitter.com/2XxrpNkOog
— We Are Protestors (@WeAreProtestors) August 17, 2022
The prolonged economic downfall forced the government to ink out a $44 billion debt deal with the IMF earlier this year that mandates strict austerity measures in order to reduce the fiscal deficit. Critics, however, have pointed to the debilitating economic impact of the structural reforms introduced under the IMF deal.
The economic woes and resultant social unrest come at a time when President Fernández faces internal ruptures in his government, as evidenced by the recent appointment of Sergio Massa as the third economy minister in a month. With general elections due in 2023, Fernández will be worried about his ability to secure re-election.
In fact, a nationwide anti-government protest rocked Argentine cities on Independence Day on July 11, at which point inflation had breached the 60% mark.
With citizens voicing their anger over “no work, salaries that just don't stretch far enough,” and “constant price mark-ups,” pressure is building on Fernandez to tame inflation in one of the richest countries in the world.
Recurring protests over the rising cost of living in the country mirror similar upsurges across the region, including in Peru, Panama, Haiti, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia.