The strike began on Wednesday with a massive demonstration in front of Congress to support a protest by pensioners, who have been the hardest hit by the cuts.
Argentina's main labor unions began their third 24-hour general strike on Thursday against the spending cuts imposed by the ultra-liberal government of President Javier Milei, which have paralyzed train, plane, port, and public school services.
Although the banks were closed, the market operated normally, albeit with reduced business due to the strike.
The city of Buenos Aires woke up semi-paralyzed, with the movement of cars and buses, the only means of transportation that did not join the strike promoted by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Argentine Workers' Central (CTA), and the State Workers' Association (ATE).
The strike began on Wednesday with a massive demonstration in front of Congress in downtown Buenos Aires to support a protest by pensioners, who have been hardest hit by the cuts and have been subjected to harsh repression in recent weeks.
"After this measure, they have to turn off the chainsaw. It's over, there's no room for more cuts," said Rodolfo Aguiar, Secretary General of ATE Nacional, on his website, referring to the tool Milei has used to illustrate the cuts in public spending since taking office in December 2023.
The unions are demanding the reinstatement of workers who were "illegally" dismissed, the reopening of salary negotiations, the rejection of the privatization of public companies, and an increase in pension benefits for retirees, among other measures.
"Everything is at a standstill at the ports of Rosario," said Guillermo Wade, manager of the private port chamber CAPyM.
There was less traffic on the streets, although many businesses were open. Public hospitals were operating with minimal staff, as were other government agencies, and there were no cargo transport or flights.
Argentines' opinions regarding the general strike were mixed in Buenos Aires, where garbage could be seen piling up due to the lack of waste collection.
"Since there's no railroad, I have to change public transportation, but the right to strike is also a workers' right, and I think there should be more strikes because the situation with this government is unsustainable," said Hugo Velázquez, a 62-year-old employee, as he boarded a bus.
Lucas Edezma, a 33-year-old employee, disagreed with the strike, which he considered "the worst thing that can happen, that they complicate things for the workers."
"It's a problem," he said. "Even the hospitals are understaffed. Now I have to take my grandmother to the hospital, and I honestly don't know what I'm going to do."
Milei, an eccentric economist and former television panelist, has managed to reduce inflation since coming to power—although it still registered 2.4% in February—and eliminate a deep fiscal deficit, but the brutal cuts in public spending have hit public salaries and pensions.
"In the face of a government that impoverishes workers and retirees, promotes price increases and capital flight, with frozen collective bargaining agreements and attempts to privatize Aerolíneas Argentinas and Intercargo, we will continue to build resistance and unity," said the Aeronautical Personnel Association (APA) on its X account.
The airports were empty, with planes grounded and flight cancellation signs posted, while some passengers settled into their seats, waiting for news.
"Call the airline, find out what's going on, when the flights will be resumed, when they will be able to fly again, but I still support (the workers) if they're protesting," said Fabricio Adamek, a 25-year-old student.
