The Argentine State Workers' Association, ATE, has held a national strike and a march, against the "adjustment" President Mauricio Macri's government wants to impose through the 2018 budget and fiscal reforms.
RELATED:
Argentine Trade Unions March Against Macri’s Neoliberal Reforms
The protesters condemned the plans which will impose tariffs above 40 percent and an increase credit debts.
The Secretary General of the ATE, Hugo "Cachorro" Godoy said, "These two laws will involve adjustments in public policies, reduction of social, scientific, educational and health development, and will mean greater job insecurity for state and wage losses."
Godoy insisted the budget will lead to more adjustments in provincial and municipal states.
He also regretted that it was always the poor and state workers who were affected by government policies.
#MarchaLaCCC con ATE y CTA contra el ajuste de Macri pic.twitter.com/Zlbvk5TAEz
— PCR Argentina (@PCRargentina) 4 October 2017
"We are convinced that if the workers do not protest and we fight for our rights, the Government is moving forward with a labor reform that is validated by complacent leaders and accomplices," said Godoy.
Planned reforms which would affect employees, retirees and trade unions have come in for sustained criticism in recent months.
Workers say the labor legislation undercuts employees' rights, lower wages and make union organizing more difficult.
While pension changes would increase commodity prices and cut the number of available beneficiaries.