Argentina sees wave of public sector strikes over wages and university funding

Non‑teaching staff at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata announced a 48‑hour strike demanding salary improvements, the opening of collective bargaining and full implementation of the Law on University Financing. The Federation of University Teachers (FEDUN) called a parallel 48‑hour strike nationwide, warning that university professors have lost more than 50 % of their purchasing power since the current government took office.

In the province of Chubut, the Asociación de Trabajadores del Estado (ATE) confirmed that its 72‑hour provincial strike will continue despite a mandatory conciliation order from the labour ministry, leaving schools in Comodoro Rivadavia and Trelew empty and prompting possible sanctions against union leaders.

The government is also evaluating a new round of public‑sector staff reductions, with union leaders from ATE and the Unión del Personal Civil de la Nación warning of intensified conflict if negotiations are not opened. Separately, the agribusiness union UATRE reported a severe wage‑payment crisis at the Tres Arroyos poultry farm affecting up to 7,000 workers and signaled possible labour actions.

All these actions reflect growing unrest over low wages, delayed salaries and the stalled university financing law under the current administration.