La Rioja teachers announce strike over salary disputes

Teachers in La Rioja, Argentina, are escalating labor actions due to ongoing salary disputes and unpaid bonuses. The Asociación de Maestros y Profesores (AMP) has called for a total strike across all educational levels on September 1st.

A central point of contention is the Ítem Profesional Docente (IPE), a presenteeism incentive. The union demands that this amount be integrated into the basic salary rather than being treated as a conditional bonus. Currently, teachers face significant deductions—up to 160,000 pesos per shift—if they miss more than two days of work, even for medical or family reasons. The AMP argues this system forces educators to neglect their health to avoid financial penalties.

Simultaneously, private school teachers represented by SADOP are reporting delays in salary payments and the non-payment of the 50,000 peso 'Chachos' component. SADOP officials noted that some institutions have attributed these delays to increased delinquency in school fee payments, though the union maintains that employers are responsible for salary fulfillment regardless of state subsidies or tuition collection.