Social tension is rising in Argentina. After a demonstration of retirees repressed by the police in front of Congress on Wednesday, this Thursday was a national strike day in public universities. Their budget has not been updated since last year, despite an annual inflation of 263%. And the first victims of this budgetary asphyxiation are the teachers.
1 min
With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Theo Consciousness
This is already the third time that public university staff have gone on strike since the start of the second semester a month ago. The University of Buenos Aires, where Rocío Salgueiro teaches, has declared itself in a state of salary emergency: ” We are mainly asking for a revaluation, because our salaries have lost a lot in the face of inflation. The majority of teachers live below the poverty line at present. »
Also readIn Argentina, civil society stands up against the reduction of public information
According to the National Interuniversity Council, teachers have lost a third of their purchasing power to inflation since Javier Milei came to power, and 85% of them receive a salary below the poverty line.
” No one can make ends meet “, warns Laura Garboni, also a teacher at the University of Buenos Aires. As a result, many have to supplement their income with another job, when they do not decide to abandon teaching directly. ” More and more colleagues tell us: I’m leaving my job to go do something better paid, because I have to pay the rent. »
The Senate is due to examine next week a text updating the university budget voted on by the deputies in mid-August. But if approved by the upper house, Javier Milei has warned that he will use his veto to oppose the text in order to preserve the budget balance.
Also readArgentina: Two French rugby players charged with rape allowed to leave the country