Argentina: Major transportation disruptions amid Sep. 25 general strike /update 4

Event

Various trade unions - including the umbrella ATE (Asociación Trabajadores del Estado) and CGT organizations (Confederación General de Trabajo) - have called for a general strike to be held on Tuesday, September 25, to denounce austerity measures proposed by the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Aviation sector workers will be taking part and major flight disruptions are anticipated. The airlines Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral have canceled all flights initially programmed for Tuesday and have rescheduled all flights programmed for Monday evening to depart before 20:00 (local time). Disruptions on a similar scale are likely to affect other airlines operating in the country. Increased wait times at airports are also to be expected, along with residual disruptions September 26.    

Public transportation workers are also expected to take part, which could cause major disruptions to daily life in urban areas. Intercity coach buses could also be significantly impacted. Previous strikes have disrupted key amenities, such as banking, hospital, and government services.

Associated street protests and roadblocks are to be anticipated in cities, notably the capital Buenos Aires, which could have a significant impact on traffic flows.

The smaller CTA union (Central de Trabajadores de la Argentina) will begin its strike at noon on Monday, meaning some disruptions are possible on Monday afternoon/evening.

Context

Unions have staged numerous rallies and strikes in recent months and years to protest the country's economic conditions and policies introduced by the conservative administration of President Mauricio Marci. Macri announced on August 29 that Argentina would accept a USD 50 billion loan from the IMF to help address major inflation and currency devaluation, among other issues.

The CGT is the largest labor union in the country; one in five employees in Argentina, and two thirds of unionized workers, belong to the CGT.

Advice

Individuals in Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires, are advised to confirm the status of their flights, prepare for disruptions to daily life, allow for extra time to reach their destinations, and avoid all public gatherings due to the risk of low-intensity violence.