Argentina public‑sector unions clash with government over health benefits and salaries

Inés Rodríguez, secretary‑general of the legislative employees’ union SELEG, said the province’s salary policy limits wage increases for legislative staff and that the union is pursuing additional benefits such as permanent positions and recategorisation. She criticised recent changes to the provincial health scheme OSEP, particularly the introduction of a medical allowance charge and fees for first specialist consultations, arguing that workers should not be forced to pay these costs.

At the same time, teachers’ and state‑employee unions in Santa Fe Province warned that the forthcoming Integrated Occupational Health System (Sipsal), to be rolled out from August under a contract with private firm SML Consultores Médicos (Grupo Werthein), would replace self‑managed sick‑leave reporting with a digital system that they say prioritises absenteeism control over health care. The unions claim the system creates a climate of suspicion, undermines workers’ rights, and places medical decisions in private hands.

Both unions pledged to continue defending workers’ interests and to press the provincial authorities for improvements.