The small table of the CGT will meet again to define how to continue the struggle plan against the Government of Javier Milei, initiated on July 22.
Among the alternatives that will again be on the table is the possibility of calling for a fifth general strike, although the union leadership itself has doubts about the low level of support that such a strike could achieve.
For now, the labor federation has decided to prioritize mobilizations. In this context, the next march against Milei will be called under the pretext of the "indebted families" and will take place in front of the Ministry of Economy, with a date set for August 19 or 20.
Kirchnerist militants
The new mobilization is part of a union strategy aimed at broadening the range of demands in the protests against the Government.
The CGT has already participated in various gatherings over the past few weeks, including a protest with the "retirees" in front of Congress, a mobilization against the Inviolability of Private Property project, and the march from San Cayetano to Plaza de Mayo.
The failure of the CGT marches
The assessment of the initial actions, however, was negative. In the mobilization on July 22 in front of Congress, called to support the demands of the "retirees," the unions had a limited presence.
There was little mobilization, many of the main CGT leaders were absent, and several of the representatives who attended stayed at the location for less than half an hour.
This precedent is one of the elements that the small table will have to consider when defining the next steps. The union leadership aims to move towards a new general strike, but acknowledges that they are not in a position to achieve significant support.
Kirchnerist militants
The scenario also explains why the CGT had initially ruled out a general strike. When it launched the current struggle plan on July 7, the federation concluded that there were not enough guarantees of success for a nationwide measure.
As a result, it opted to focus on mobilizations and set aside the scheme of sectoral and rotating strikes known as “French-style”, proposed by some transport unions following the protests held in France against Emmanuel Macron in 2023.
The schedule planned by the CGT will not end with the mobilization for the "indebted." The federation also plans a gathering during the meeting of the Minimum Wage Council, the date of which has yet to be established, in addition to participating in the Social Week of the Church and organizing a mobilization for Industry Day, scheduled for September 2.
These activities will be joined by actions related to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Argentina, expected in November. In this context, the CGT will seek to call its members to the mass that will be held in Luján and will try to maintain a private audience with the pontiff.
While organizing this extensive calendar of activities, the union leadership will have to decide whether to finally proceed with another general strike against Milei. The possibility remains, but the main question is the little support that a large-scale strike could garner.
