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Argentina: Massive Protest Against Macris government
The Dawn News / April 29, 2016
In commemoration of the International Workers Day, all five Workers Centrals converged outside the Ministry of Labour in Buenos Aires City after marching from different points of the city. More than 150,000 workers, laid of workers protested against Macris economic policies which have resulted in layoffs and an increasing inflation in basic goods. Social and political movements also joined the protests. Both left-wing and Kirchnerist organizations were present to support the claims and reject, once again, the political and economic project that Macrismo intends to deepen.
Protesters also marched in favor of the Anti-layoffs Law that has already obtained preliminary approval in the Senate and to reject Macris sayings: he affirmed that if the law passes, he would veto it. The Anti-Layoffs Law project seeks to put a limit on layoffs in both the public and private sector and it would be retroactive from March 1, 2016, which would apply to all workers that are fired from that date on. Any worker dismissed without proper cause during that period, would be entitled to double the amount of a regular severance, meaning that employers wouldnt be so inclined to lay workers off.
The increasing job instability, plus the significant raise in basic service rates, are putting a dent on Macris good image and on the support of sectors that had backed him in the election. The government has not been able to revert this tendency, as Macri and his cabinet had intended with the few social measures they announced:an insufficient increase in Child Allowance and the VAT refund, for items under 300 pesos (21 dollars).
The State Workers Association (ATE) also participated in the mobilization. This sector has been severely hit by the policy of reduction of the state that Macris government has taken up: 70,000 state workers have been dismissed, including workers who are part of the most important healthcare programs, such as programs for the prevention of Dengue and Zika and delivery of medicines. ATE has already held a National Strike earlier this year and organized several marches to both the Modernization Ministry and the Labour Ministry.
University teachers also joined the protest. Currently, they are carrying out a national strike due to the impossibility of achieving a decent wage increase: in the negotiations, the government offered a 15% raise by the end of this year. This was not enough for the unions, given that the expected inflation for 2016 exceeds 40%. University teachers started the strike on Monday, after another unsuccessful meeting with the authorities. As if that wasnt enough, the authorities of the public university approved next years budget with an increase of 0% (zero percent), which, added to the huge increase in basic services, left many faculties struggling to pay for their electricity bills, let alone to pay their teachers and workers. It looks like the education is not a priority for this government.
More, and photos:
http://www.thedawn-news.org/2016/04/29/argentina-massive-protest-against-macris-government/