Ei-iE

A number of demands and petitions around education brought Argentinean education workers together for a National Teachers' Strike on the 3rd of August, with support from both Education International Headquarters and the Latin American Regional Committee.

A day of resistance

The strike had a very high level of compliance throughout the country, with massive numbers of education workers participating in different actions and mobilizations in each province.

The teachers demanded the urgent implementation of the National Teachers' Paritaria, a salary increase that would make salaries commensurate with the rising cost of living, the restitution and payment of the FONID, and the transfer of the national funds for education owed to the provinces by the National Government. In addition, they called for a new Law on Educational Financing, the defense of teacher retirements, and the rejection of the Educational Freedom Bill and the policies that seek to defund public schools and advance workers' rights.

The centerpiece of the demonstrations was a massive mobilization in front of the Ministry of Economy of the Nation, where teachers firmly demanded new policies that would guarantee the social right to education and respect for workers. The strike and mobilizations were carried out jointly by the Confederación de Trabajadores de Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA) and the Federación Nacional de Docentes Universitarios (CONADU), both members of Education International (IE). The CONADU Histórica and ATE were also part of the strike and mobilizations organization.

International solidarity

The strength of the strike and the participation in the streets reflect the deep discomfort that Argentine teachers are experiencing in the face of the adjustment on public education, and the lack of responses from the National Government.

Education International reaffirmed its unwavering support to their national members and education community in Argentina. David Edwards, General Secretary of EI, addressed a support letter to the movement in which he stated that “Education International will address the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the brutal onslaught against the teaching profession by the government of Javier Milei. The Argentine Government violates ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association.” The President added that dialogue and commitment to public education are required to withstand such a challenging historical moment.

Closer to home, the Education International Latin America Regional’s Committee also issued a support letter in which they state that: “The national teachers' strike of August 3 is protected not only by the Constitution of the Republic of Argentina, but is in line with the provisions of Conventions 87, 98 and 151 of the International Labor Organization and the pronouncements of its control bodies.”

The Regional Committee also urges the Argentine government and authorities to refrain from applying administrative sanctions, fines or any other retaliatory measures against trade unions and education workers for calling, organizing or participating in the national teachers' strike on 3 August 2026.

Several Education International member organizations, among them JTU Japan and KTU Iraq, had expressed solidarity with their Argentinean counterparts, with more affiliates expected to join in as Argentina's teachers continue resisting these current government attacks.