ATE is preparing a "boycott" before the arrival of Javier Milei to Rosario for the Day of the Flag

The Argentine government has finalized the state-level collective bargaining agreement, which will affect the salaries of public employees. This decision was reached on Thursday with the approval of the UPCN union, while ATE, one of the most vocal opposition unions against President Javier Milei’s administration, rejected the offer. The agreement outlines salary increases for public workers between June and August 2026, totaling 6.64%, divided into three increments: 2.4% in June, 2.2% in July, and 1.9% in August. Additionally, a one-time bonus of $50,000 will be added in August, which will count toward their remuneration.

According to official data, inflation in Argentina accumulated 14.7% during the first five months of 2026, though the government expects this trend to continue declining. The latest monthly inflation rate recorded in May was 2.1%. Public employees will receive these salary adjustments over the next few months, but the agreement has sparked significant controversy among certain labor groups. ATE claims that since Milei took office, public workers have experienced a 43% loss in purchasing power relative to inflation. Meanwhile, UPCN estimates the loss to be around 40% for all public workers covered under the General Collective Agreement, and approximately 35% for those working under the National Public Employment System (SINEP). However, the government estimates the loss for SINEP workers to be about 32%.

The agreement also extends to national officials, as outlined in Article 3 of Decree No. 931/2025 issued on January 2, 2025. According to this decree, the percentage increases agreed upon in the collective bargaining process for national public administration will apply to the salaries of ministers, secretaries, deputy secretaries, higher authorities, and other officials of equivalent rank. However, the president and vice president remain subject to a frozen salary since Milei assumed office. In May, the gross salary for the head of the cabinet and ministers was $8,020,866, while secretaries earned $7,346,575 and deputy secretaries received $6,672,510.

Rodolfo Aguiar, leader of ATE, expressed his discontent with the new agreement, stating that the offer made by the Ministry of Labor, led by Julio Cordero, was insufficient and did not address the lost purchasing power of public workers. He accused the government of implementing a planned impoverishment strategy for the public sector and claimed that each public worker had suffered an average loss of $12 million since Milei came to power. Aguiar warned that this agreement would accelerate tensions with the government, especially given the ongoing disputes over layoffs and salary cuts in the public sector.

In addition to rejecting the salary increase, ATE announced plans to stage a boycott during President Milei's visit to Rosario on June 20 for the Day of the Flag ceremony. The union declared Milei a "person non grata," criticizing his economic policies and their negative impact on the population. The protest is scheduled to take place starting at 9 AM in Plaza Pringles, located at the intersection of Córdoba and Paraguay streets in Rosario. ATE also criticized the presence of Vice President Victoria Villarruel, who confirmed she would attend the event despite not being officially invited.

Aguiar further condemned the government's approach, highlighting the growing unemployment crisis in Argentina, where he stated that 68% of laid-off workers come from large companies. He accused the government of engaging in "surrender and plundering" of natural resources and state-owned enterprises, contributing to the erosion of public services such as healthcare, education, and employment. ATE emphasized its stance against Milei's participation in the flag ceremony, arguing that his views on national symbols contradict the values represented by Argentina's flag. The union described Milei as the "maximum adjuster of the people" and reiterated its critical position regarding the government's economic measures.