Argentinian Teachers Threaten with Delay of the School Year

With unions such as CTERA and CGT, Argentine teachers propose to postpone the start of the school year to February 24 if their salary demands are not met. The problem lies in the disparity of initial salaries by region and high inflation.


Argentinian Teachers Threaten with Delay of the School Year

Some union representatives are considering the possibility of not starting classes if the situation is not resolved in time, according to El Cronista. Teacher unions, such as AMET, UDA, and CEA, have called a press conference at the CGT's Azopardo headquarters to discuss the paralysis of negotiations since 2024.

The lack of definitions regarding a salary adjustment, which has remained unchanged since July 2024, has led unions to consider the possibility of taking national action. CTERA also plans a plenary meeting of secretaries-general for today. Some are willing to not only postpone the start of classes next week but also the following week when classes begin in the last provinces and higher levels.

The unions indicate that current starting salaries are not enough to cover a basic family basket. The possibility of not starting classes for the next two weeks will be debated, and both the CGT and CTERA will define the steps to follow in CABA and in the 12 provinces that start the cycle on February 24.

Salary differences between different regions also complicate the situation. While some districts have recently closed local negotiations, others are still ongoing or have not been activated. This salary disparity is one of the concerns that was attempted to be corrected in the 1990s with Fonid and the Compensatory Fund.

In some provinces, such as Catamarca, salary agreements have been reached, while others struggle to compensate for the loss in salaries. Uncertainty persists due to the lack of a formal proposal from the Government, which has led to the possibility of taking action if a satisfactory agreement is not reached for both parties.