CGT Rejects 'Regressive' Labor Reform in Argentina

The leadership of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) has once again marked its differences with the Government by warning that it will not support any “regressive” labor reform and denouncing an “official lack of willingness” to open a real instance of negotiation. They described the proposal as a “fallacy” and claimed it is a “construction by the Government to degrade and defame trade union organizations.” According to the union leader, the discussion on union financing is being used as a political maneuver to weaken the representation of workers. In a context of growing tensions between the national administration and the labor movement, the CGT seeks to reinforce its role as a decisive actor in the negotiation of any structural reform. Citing agreements reached in the automotive and oil sectors as examples, which they believe provided predictability, improved productivity, and expanded formal employment, the CGT leaders emphasized: “What we have seen in recent days goes against that: there are company closures, job losses, and we are in a critical moment for the Argentine industry.” They also pointed out that the draft documents contain provisions that, in the central union's judgment, represent setbacks in acquired rights and do not favor the creation of formal employment. The CGT leadership insists that the Government must convene and build a joint negotiation space with the representatives of the world of labor, and until then, it will not agree to any regressive reform. Union leaders denied that the CGT is unaware of the guidelines of the official initiative and assured that the available information comes from “law firms from the business sector.” They insisted, however, that this process must take place without dismantling tools that, according to the CGT, have proven effective in regulating labor relations in Argentina. In this framework, they vindicated collective bargaining agreements as central instruments of labor negotiation in Argentina. The initiative was led by the general co-secretary Cristian Jerónimo, who also warned about the economic deterioration, company closures, and the growing loss of jobs in the industry. Despite his critical stance, the leader acknowledged that the world of labor is undergoing structural transformations that require a serious and updated debate. He also warned that the indicators tracked by the unions show a critical scenario for the national industry. The progress or regression of the labor project will depend largely on the Government's ability to open a channel of dialogue that, according to the central union, still does not exist.