Argentina Shuts Down as Macri Faces First General Strike
- Police clash with protesters at pickets in Buenos Aires
- General strike to cost Argentine economy nearly $1 billion
Argentina’s Macri Says Economy Is 'Already Growing'
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Argentina was brought to a standstill on Thursday as labor unions demanding higher wages staged the country’s first general strike since President Mauricio Macri took office 15 months ago.
The 24-hour strike started at midnight, bringing to a halt public transport, airports, customs, schools, factories and some government offices in South America’s second largest economy. Marches and rallies were held throughout the country, with participants also protesting against recent government measures to rein on the country’s deficit, which included cut in subsidies. The unions argue that the end of the subsidies has led to job reductions and sky-rocketing prices.