The State Workers Association (ATE) has reiterated the importance of the Argentine people taking control of the situation and going out into the streets in defense of the country's institutional integrity. Following the recent illegal repression that took place in the Federal Capital, where retired individuals were beaten, children were affected by tear gas, and a photojournalist is fighting for his life, the union has expanded its demands.
Rodolfo Aguiar, General Secretary of ATE, emphasized that the current struggle goes beyond improving the living conditions of retirees; it also concerns defending democracy in Argentina. In this regard, the union demands not only an emergency increase in pensions to surpass the poverty line and the restoration of the Sustainability Guarantee Fund (FGS) of ANSES but also the immediate resignation of the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich.
The new pension mobility formula recently proposed has raised concerns in ATE as it would negatively impact the most vulnerable sectors of the population. According to the Center for Argentine Political Economy (CEPA), minimum pensions could be reduced by 27.9% under this new formula. Therefore, the union has called for a work stoppage to march with retirees to the National Congress next Wednesday, the 19th.
Additionally, ATE has announced its participation in other activities such as the march scheduled for Memory Day for Truth and Justice, as well as a National Strike with a mobilization to the Ministry of State Deregulation. The call for mobilization made by the two CTAs reflects the need to defend the rights of the most vulnerable sectors of society and to demand action within the legal framework by the authorities.
In Rodolfo Aguiar's words, "We cannot normalize what is happening to retirees," calling on citizens not to remain indifferent to the injustices being committed. For ATE, the protection of the most vulnerable groups in society, such as the elderly and children, is at stake, as they suffer the consequences of policies that endanger their well-being and lives.
