Argentina Faces Class Resumption Disruption as Teachers Announce National Strike

Teachers across Argentina are preparing for a nationwide strike on August 3rd, called by the Confederation of Education Workers (Ctera). This action is set to disrupt the resumption of classes in Buenos Aires and other regions following the winter break. The union's decision stems from what they describe as the government's persistent refusal to engage in national salary negotiations, a move they argue violates current legislation and neglects a crucial forum for discussing wages, working conditions, and educational investment.

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The decision responds to the government's permanent refusal to convene national teacher salary negotiations, violating current legislation and disregarding a fundamental forum for discussing salaries, working conditions, training, and educational investment.

Ctera has voiced strong criticism regarding the perceived underfunding of the education system. The union asserts that teachers' salaries are losing purchasing power, national funds for education remain unallocated, and initiatives aimed at cutting labor rights and social security benefits are advancing. They are demanding an immediate national salary negotiation, a pay raise to counteract inflation, the prompt reinstatement and payment of the National Teacher Incentive Fund (Fonid) and other national education funds, and the enactment of a new Educational Financing Law.

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While the underfunding of the education system deepens, teachers' salaries continue to lose purchasing power, the non-compliance in the restitution of the National Teacher Incentive Fund (Fonid) and national funds for education persists, and initiatives aimed at cutting labor rights, social security, and the social right to education advance.

Beyond salary and funding concerns, the union is also opposing proposed reforms. Ctera specifically rejects any changes to the retirement system and criticizes the proposed "Law of Educational Freedom." They contend that this law represents a significant encroachment on the social right to education, academic freedom, teachers' employment rights, and the state's fundamental responsibility to guarantee a public, democratic, inclusive, and high-quality education for all citizens. The union is also calling for increased investment in school infrastructure, meal programs, scholarships, connectivity, and socio-educational initiatives.

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We demand an urgent call for national teacher salary negotiations; a salary increase to recover the purchasing power of salaries; immediate restitution and payment of Fonid and national funds for education; and the enactment of a new Educational Financing Law.

The planned strike is part of a broader wave of labor actions. The State Workers' Association (ATE) has also announced a strike and a mobilization to the Ministry of Economy on the same day, demanding salary increases and protesting against what they call the "hollowing out" of the state. There is a possibility that ATE and Ctera may coordinate their protests, given the overlap in dates and objectives. Additionally, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) has indicated it will announce its own "teacher struggle plan" for the following days, signaling a potentially widespread labor conflict.

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We reject any retirement reform and the so-called Law of Educational Freedom, as it constitutes a serious advance on the social right to education, freedom of teaching, teachers' work, and the State's non-delegable responsibility to guarantee a public, democratic, inclusive, and quality education for all.