THE election of far-right Javier Milei as president of Argentina represents a clear and present danger to Argentinian trade unions, their members, the wider working class and indeed the overwhelming majority of Argentinian people.

President Milei’s central economic policy of “anarcho-capitalism” is an extreme variant of “neoliberalism” or “monetarism” — economic policies that for the past 40 years have facilitated the global transfer of wealth from working people to the super-rich and the corporate sector.

An essential and enduring feature of these policies is the restriction or even elimination of labour rights; usually a restriction on the right to organise, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike. This fits in with Milei’s agenda of saying that protesters should face either “prison or bullet.” He is also known to have the country’s women’s and environmental movements in his sights, just as the far-right Bolsonaro presidency did in Brazil.

Early on, the Confederacion General del Trabajo (CGT) trade union centre has achieved a major victory over the president when the courts suspended the labour law reform, part of the Milei’s “mega-decree” on economic restructuring.

These “reforms” included an extension of workers’ probationary period from three to eight months, a reduction in the amount of compensation payable for unfair dismissal and a reduction in the time allowable for maternity leave. However, victory in the courts is not enough, Milei is to appeal the judgement — and the fight will continue in workplaces and communities across the country.

It is no doubt also a precursor of great struggles to come across many sectors against a presidency which threatens authoritarianism, climate change denial, extreme austerity and social discrimination.

The CGT and other unions, including CTA de Trabajadores and Trabajadoras, have called a general strike on January 24 to oppose Milei’s proposals for labour law reform and privatisation. We send our full solidarity to the CGT and all of those taking strike action, and pledge to support all those resisting the far-right offensive.

Their fight is our fight.
 
Initial signatories of the statement include:
 
Apsana Begum MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
John McDonnell MP
Grahame Morris MP
Zarah Sultana MP
Andy McDonald MP
Baroness Christine Blower
Lord John Hendy KC
Baroness Frances O’Grady
Lord Tony Woodley 
Cllr Lotte Collett — leader, Independent Socialist Group, Haringey Council
Mick Whelan — general secretary, Aslef
Jude Kirton-Darling — acting joint general secretary, IndustriALL Europe 
Louise Richards — co-ordinator, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group 
Gawain Little — general secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions
Maryam Eslamdoust — general secretary, TSSA
Sarah Woolley — general secretary, Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union
Alex Gordon — president, RMT
Andy Green — chair, Unite executive council
Joe Simpson — deputy general secretary, Prison Officers Association
Jo Grady — general secretary, UCU
Prof Keith Ewing — president, Institute of Employment Rights
Ben Chacko — editor, Morning Star
Lindsey German — convener, Stop the War Coalition
Tony Burke — co-chair, Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
Matt Willgress — Labour Outlook
Carolyn Jones – senior vice-president, Institute of Employment Rights
Jess Barnard — Labour NEC member
Mohammad Suhail — Young Labour international officer
Marcus Barnett — Tribune
Mike Phipps — Labour Hub
 
To add you name please visit: bit.ly/argentinageneralstrike.