Overview
- Monday’s public address by Pope León XIV at the Universidad Católica Argentina was followed by a large CGT delegation and prompted the union federation to press its claims publicly.
- On Tuesday the CGT issued an institutional document mapping seven points of agreement between the pope’s social doctrine and the labor movement, including work as dignity, defense of social justice, the unions’ democratic role, State responsibilities and concerns about AI.
- The federation formally called for a 'mesa de diálogo' that brings together workers, employers and the State to push production-led growth, creation of formal quality jobs, recovery of real wages and stronger regional industry.
- CGT secretary-general Cristián Jerónimo warned that 'la gente ya no tiene tanta paciencia,' using the papal message as moral backing to challenge President Javier Milei’s libertarian economic line and its proposed labor changes.
- The CGT demands that workers and their organizations have a seat in decisions on automation and artificial intelligence, a stance that raises the odds of tougher labour pressure if the government and employers do not enter the proposed talks.