CGT turns its back on Cristina: it doesn't attend PJ and releases unions ahead of the march

In an unmistakable sign of fracture within Peronism, CGT distanced itself from the more hardline Kirchnerism and avoided joining PJ's strategy of political victimization following the judicial conviction of Cristina Kirchner. The former president, now under house arrest for corruption, is receiving increasingly fragmented support, even among her historic allies.

The country's most powerful labor union distanced itself from Kirchnerist party politics. Amid the tension caused by the recent confirmation of house arrest for Cristina Fernándezde Kirchner, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) decided not to participate in the meeting convened by the National Council of the Justicialist Party (PJ) and avoided explicitly supporting a possible mobilization in support of the former president, who was sentenced to six years in prison and permanently disqualified from holding public office for corruption in the Vialidad Case.

The resolution was adopted at noon during a meeting held at the headquarters of the Health Workers Federation (FATSA), before the house arrest order at the apartment on San José 1111 street was officially announced. CGT leaders, including Héctor Daer (Health) and Octavio Argüello (Truck Drivers), agreed to reject PJ's invitation due to the "irregularities" in the call and allowed unions the freedom to decide whether or not to join possible marches or strikes.

Through a statement released after 4:00 p.m., CGT tried to maintain rhetorical balance. It stated that "on the occasion of the notification of the sentence to Comrade Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a popular gathering has been arranged to express repudiation of an unjust, partial, and arbitrary decision", and invited "by conviction, belonging, and solidarity" those who wished to join. However, far from adopting a unified stance, it made clear that "those unions that have decided on union actions are free to carry out the measures they deem appropriate."

Despite the slogans in defense of the former president, the decision not to call a general strike demonstrates the limit that many union leaders impose on the Kirchnerist intention to paralyze the country as a form of political pressure. The statement concludes by affirming:  "Workers have memory and we will take to the streets to repudiate injustice and proscription in defense of democracy", a phrase that failed to conceal the growing disinterest of traditional unionism in embarking on CFK's personalist crusade.

Among those attending the FATSA summit, in addition to Daer and Argüello, were figures such as Hugo Moyano (Truck Drivers), José Luis Lingeri (Sanitation Works), Julio Piumato (Judiciary), Juan Pablo Brey (Airline Workers), Jorge Sola (Insurance), Omar Plaini (News Vendors), Miguel Paniagua (Public Entertainment), Víctor Santa María (SUTERH), and Guillermo Moser (Light and Power), the latter also holding positions in the national PJ.

In contrast, key leaders such as Carlos Acuña (Service Stations), one of CGT's three general secretaries; Andrés Rodríguez (UPCN) and Gerardo Martínez (UOCRA), both in Europe for the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference, and Sergio Romero (UDA), were absent.

PJ had hoped to organize a massive caravan in support of Cristina Kirchner, who was convicted of redirecting public roadwork funds during her presidential terms. However, last Thursday's call was postponed at the last minute to include the presence of Peronist governors, which caused discontent among the union leadership. That discontent was amplified by pressure from the more radicalized sectors of Kirchnerism that sought to force CGTto declare a general strike, something that was resisted by most unions.

One of those singled out by his peers was Abel Furlán, head of the Metalworkers Union (UOM) and CGT's Secretary of the Interior, who stated that "the labor union should build a common objective with consistency over time", hinting at the need for a strike. Despite his words, his union did not decree any measure and only joined the call.

The attitude of SMATA leaders, Ricardo Pignanelli and Mario Manrique, was similar. The latter, a national deputy for Unión por la Patria and an ultra-Kirchnerist, declared that CGT "should mobilize, declare a work stoppage, and have everyone come together beyond our differences", but did not promote any work stoppage in the automotive sector.

Another union leader aligned with Kirchnerism, Sergio Palazzo (Bank Workers), also did not call for a strike. Although he stated that "the first thing that must happen is a large mobilization to support Cristina when she has to appear in court" and that "there must be a work stoppage", so far his union has not taken any concrete action.

Those who did announce measures were organizations more closely identified with hardline Kirchnerism and that are not part of CGT. The Capital Section of the State Workers Association (ATE), led by Daniel Catalano, and the Judicial Workers Union (SITRAJU), headed by Vanesa Siley, both closely linked to La Cámpora, confirmed strikes for this Wednesday. They were joined by the two CTAs, the Autonomous (Hugo "Cachorro" Godoy) and the Workers' (Hugo Yasky), who also actively support the former president.