A strike against the policies of Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner halted trains and buses on Thursday amid growing public discontent over high inflation and crime.
The strike aims to paralyze transport in the South American nation for 24 hours, but it is not clear how many workers will honor the stoppage.
In Buenos Aires and its suburbs, long lines of commuters formed as workers left earlier than usual on Wednesday to try to get home.
Elsewhere, long lines formed at gasoline stations and piles of accumulated garbage were not picked up.
Three of the country's five unions are expected to participate in Thursday's labor action, which also takes aim at Kirchner's attempt to cap salary increases in an increasingly troubled economy.
Kirchner's center-left government is being blamed for an annual inflation rate of over 30 percent. In addition, crime is seen as a major concern by the population.
But not everyone backs the strike.
"My colleagues and I are not going to back the strike. We have arranged to get to work (Thursday) in a taxi," said Diana Gonzalez, 26, who works in a pharmacy in Buenos Aires.
Alberto Gomez, 31, chief of security at a popular shopping mall in downtown Buenos Aires, said he will work as usual because his company has set up shuttle buses for workers to report for duty Thursday.
"Here we are not on strike. We respect the stoppage, but do so while working," he said.
Besides the cap on salary increases, unions are angry about inflation, which was 7 percent in the first two months of the year, and rampant crime in major cities.
"Enough! That's what the workers are telling the government," said Hugo Moyano, a truck driver, who heads the CGT union.
"I'm never in favor of the strikes but living with this level of inflation is impossible," said Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri of the opposition PRO party.
Earlier this month, a year-long public safety emergency was declared in Buenos Aires after a spate of violent robberies and assaults sparked a wave of vigilante action.
The last general strike called by unions in Argentina took place in November 2012 and partially paralyzed the country.
"Everyone has the right to strike and that's good," Kirchner, who took office in 2007 and is in her second term, said Tuesday.
A strike against the policies of Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner halted trains and buses on Thursday amid growing public discontent over high inflation and crime.
The strike aims to paralyze transport in the South American nation for 24 hours, but it is not clear how many workers will honor the stoppage.
In Buenos Aires and its suburbs, long lines of commuters formed as workers left earlier than usual on Wednesday to try to get home.
Elsewhere, long lines formed at gasoline stations and piles of accumulated garbage were not picked up.
Three of the country’s five unions are expected to participate in Thursday’s labor action, which also takes aim at Kirchner’s attempt to cap salary increases in an increasingly troubled economy.
Kirchner’s center-left government is being blamed for an annual inflation rate of over 30 percent. In addition, crime is seen as a major concern by the population.
But not everyone backs the strike.
“My colleagues and I are not going to back the strike. We have arranged to get to work (Thursday) in a taxi,” said Diana Gonzalez, 26, who works in a pharmacy in Buenos Aires.
Alberto Gomez, 31, chief of security at a popular shopping mall in downtown Buenos Aires, said he will work as usual because his company has set up shuttle buses for workers to report for duty Thursday.
“Here we are not on strike. We respect the stoppage, but do so while working,” he said.
Besides the cap on salary increases, unions are angry about inflation, which was 7 percent in the first two months of the year, and rampant crime in major cities.
“Enough! That’s what the workers are telling the government,” said Hugo Moyano, a truck driver, who heads the CGT union.
“I’m never in favor of the strikes but living with this level of inflation is impossible,” said Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri of the opposition PRO party.
Earlier this month, a year-long public safety emergency was declared in Buenos Aires after a spate of violent robberies and assaults sparked a wave of vigilante action.
The last general strike called by unions in Argentina took place in November 2012 and partially paralyzed the country.
“Everyone has the right to strike and that’s good,” Kirchner, who took office in 2007 and is in her second term, said Tuesday.
