Ei-iE

Teachers’ unions in Argentina are denouncing a new wave of attacks by the Argentinean government, as President Javier Milei announced measures to limit the right to strike for teachers and dismantle collective bargaining for salaries at the national level.

Education International affiliates in the country, the Confederación de Educadores Argentinos (CEA), the Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA), the Federación Nacional de Docentes Universitarios (CONADU), and the Sindicato Argentino de Docentes Privados (SADOP), have denounced these measures and are already taking action to defend the rights of their members.

“We stand in solidarity with our affiliates in defense of quality education and against any action that undermines democratic values and the well-being of teachers, education support staff, and students,” stated David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International. “These latest decrees are a direct attack on teachers, public education, and the rights of Argentine workers. No pasarán!” Edwards expressed his support and solidarity with the education unions, “who fight tirelessly to protect the right to free, inclusive public education.”

Education International has sounded the alarm at global level with an Urgent Action Appeal, asking member organizations around the world to show solidarity with Argentine colleagues.

The right to strike on the line

On May 21, 2025, the government issued Decree 340/25, which seeks to limit the right to strike for teachers and other sectors. The decree declares education as an "essential service," but only specifically for the purpose of restricting strike actions. This type of attack on the right to strike is not new and has already been deemed illegal.

Back in 2002, the National Labor Appeals Chamber confirmed a court ruling that declared a similar decree (Decree 843/00 from the De la Rúa government) unconstitutional. The ruling specifically stated that education is not an essential service for the purpose of limiting the right to strike. It also said that these legal tools cannot be used by future governments to stop or limit actions by education workers. More recently, the Justice system also confirmed the unconstitutionality of another decree (DNU 70/23) issued by the current government, which they say is very similar to the new Decree 340/25.

International bodies have also weighed in on this issue in the past. The Committee on Freedom of Association of the International Labour Organization (ILO) reviewed a complaint filed by CTERA regarding the earlier resolutions. The ILO Committee reminded governments that the right to strike can only be limited for "essential services" in a very strict sense. This strict definition applies only to services whose interruption could endanger the life, safety, or health of people. The ILO has stated that the education sector does not constitute an essential service in this strict sense.

Defending La Paritaria

The other measure that member organizations are denouncing is an amendment to Article 10 of the Law 26.075 which would end the National government’s participation in the negotiations on minimum teacher salary, commonly called negociaciones paritarias. This would effectively abolish a tripartite bargaining mechanism that guarantees a common minimum salary for all teachers in the country.

After the passage of article 10, it has been key to promoting decent and uniform working conditions, recognizing the federal nature of Argentina’s education system.

If passed, the proposed amendment would represent a serious setback for teacher salary and bargaining rights in Argentina. According to education unions, this new measure is part of the regressive agenda of the Milei administration, which is jeopardising public education and respect for the rights of those who make it happen.

Echoing EI’s Executive Board Declaration from January 2024, David Edwards added: “We recognize the critical role that education unions play in championing the rights of educators and the advancement of civic values in Argentina and we stand by our members, time and time again, united against any measures that undermine the democratic values and the well-being of educators and students”.