Amid severe recession, unions and activists stage a Federal March in Argentina.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Argentines protesting cuts fill the streets of Buenos Aires

Argentines protesting cuts fill the streets of Buenos Aires


Argentina’s unions brought thousands of people into the capital’s streets Friday to protest government job cuts and the elimination of subsidies


Almudena Calatrava, The Associated Press
September 2, 2016

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s unions brought thousands of people into the capital’s streets Friday to protest government job cuts, the elimination of subsidies and other policies of President Mauricio Macri.

Closing out three days of demonstrations that included road blockages across the country, columns of protesters waving blue and white Argentine flags converged in front of the presidential palace to voice their anger at the president.

Thousands of state employees have been fired since Macri came to power in December vowing to cut bloated spending. The job cuts and the slashing of utility subsidies have stoked unrest in a nation with a long tradition of providing generous state jobs and benefits.

Macri says the measures are needed to revive Argentina’s frail economy and end economic distortions that have led to years of spiraling consumer prices. But unions and human rights groups, which organized Friday’s protest, say workers are being indiscriminately fired while Argentines continue to lose purchasing power to one of the world’s highest inflation rates.

More:
http://www.macleans.ca/news/world/argentines-protesting-cuts-fill-the-streets-of-buenos-aires/