🛑 General strike in Argentina: a day of political tension, paralyzed transport and union conflict

⏱ Reading time: 4 min By Redacción | Updated as of February 19, 2026

📌 A country stopped in the midst of the conflict over labor reform

Argentina is experiencing a day marked by social and political tension. The CGT leads a 24-hour general strike in rejection of the labor reform promoted by the national government. The measure coincides with the debate of the bill in the Chamber of Deputies, which raised the climate of confrontation between the ruling party and the unions.

From the Executive, officials described the strike as "unnecessary" and "harmful to workers", while the labor federation maintains that the strike has a "massive compliance" and that the reform "cuts back on rights conquered."

🚇 Transport paralyzed and services affected

The most visible impact of the strike is felt in transport:

• Trains, subways or buses do not work.
• Airports operate with minimal services, with dozens of flights canceled.
• Taxis and remises work with low availability.

The streets of Buenos Aires woke up with reduced traffic and practically empty stations, a postcard that is repeated in the main cities of the country.

⚖️ Labour reform at the centre of the debate

The project promoted by the Government proposes changes in:

• Compensation
• Contracting modalities
• Licenses
• Working hours

While the ruling party defends the initiative as a step towards the "modernization of the labor market," the CGT warns that it is a "historic setback."

🏭 The closure of FATE aggravates the social climate

The conflict intensified after the closure of the FATE tire factory, which left more than 900 workers unemployed. The SUTNA union blames the government for "lack of industrial policies," while the Ministry of Labor dictated mandatory conciliation to stop dismissals.

At the San Fernando plant, the workers maintain a permanent vigil and denounce that the company "abandoned production".

🔥 A fragile economic scenario

The strike occurs in a context of:

• Fall in industrial activity
• Rising unemployment
• Small and medium-sized business closures

The unions maintain that the labour reform "will deepen precariousness", while the government insists that it is necessary to "reactivate the economy".

🧭 What can happen in the next few hours

• Deputies will continue the debate on the reform.
• The CGT is evaluating new measures of force.
• The Government maintains its position of not modifying the project.

⚖️ Senate approves the labor reform promoted by Milei

42 votes in favor – 30 against – Marathon session between protests

📰 The fact

In a session that lasted more than 14 hours, the Senate of the Nation approved in general the labor reform proposed by President Javier Milei. The vote ended with 42 affirmative votes and 30 negative, with no abstentions. Outside Congress, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces, with several injuries reported.

The initiative now goes to the Chamber of Deputies, where the ruling party will seek its final sanction during the extraordinary sessions.

📊 Keys to the reform

• Flexibility of labor contracts and reduction of employer burdens.
• Changes in the system of compensation and sick leave.
• Adjustments in the system of contributions and contributions.
• Greater room for action for the security forces in union conflicts.

🗳️ How each senator voted

✅ In favor (42)

• The ruling bloc La Libertad Avanza en plenary.
• Majority of the UCR.
• PRO Senators.
• Sectors of federal Peronism and provincial allies.

❌ Against (30)

• Bloc of the Frente de Todos (Kirchnerist Peronism).
• Some provincial senators who rejected labor flexibility.
• Left-wing legislators and minority parties.

🟢 Votes in favor of the labor reform (42)

🔹 La Libertad Avanza (ruling party)

1. Bartolomé Abdala
2. Romina Almeida
3. Ivanna Arrascaeta
4. Ezequiel Atauche
5. Vilma Bedia
6. Joaquín Alberto Benegas Lynch
7. Patricia Bullrich
8. Pablo Cervi
9. Agustín Coto
10. Enzo Fullone
11. Juan Cruz Godoy
12. Gonzalo Guzmán Coraita
13. Nadia Márquez
14. Monte de Oca Nativity Scene
15. Agustín Monteverde
16. Bruno Olivera Lucero
17. María Emilia Orozco
18. Juan Carlos Pagotto
19. Francisco Paoltroni

🔹 Radical Civic Union (UCR)

20. Maximiliano Abad
21. Flavio Fama
22. Eduardo Galaretto
23. Mariana Juri
24. Daniel Kroneberger
25. Carolina Losada
26. Silvana Schneider
27. Rodolfo Suárez
28. Gabriela Valenzuela
29. Eduardo Vischi

🔹 PRO (Republican Proposal)

30. Andrea Cristina
31. Martín Goerling
32. Victoria Huala
33. Luis Juez

🔹 Provincial and Independent Blocs

34. Carlos Arce — Frente Renovador de la Concordia Social
35. Sonia Rojas Decut — Frente Renovador de la Concordia Social
36. Julieta Corroza — La Neuquinidad
37. Flavia Royón — First the Salteños
38. Edith Terenzi — Despierta Chubut
39. Beatriz Ávila — Independiente
40. Alejandra Vigo — United Provinces

🔴 Votes against the labour reform (30)

🔸 Union for the Homeland (Kirchnerism / traditional Peronism)

1. Guillermo Andrada
2. Adam Bahl
3. Daniel Bensusán
4. Jorge Capitanich
5. Lucía Corpacci
6. Eduardo "Wado" de Pedro
7. Juliana Di Tullio
8. Anabel Fernández Sagasti
9. María Celeste Giménez Navarro
10. María Teresa González
11. Alicia Kirchner
12. Marcelo Lewandowski
13. Carlos Linares
14. Candida Lopez
15. María Florencia López
16. Juan Luis Manzur
17. Ana Inés Marks
18. José Mayans
19. Mariano Recalde
20. Martín Soria
21. Sergio Uñac

🔸 Federal Conviction / Other Provincials (non-UCR/PRO opposition)

22. Guillermo Andrada — Federal Conviction
23. Sandra Mendoza — Federal Conviction
24. María Carolina Moises — Federal Conviction
25. Jesús Fernando Rejal — Federal Conviction
26. Fernando Salino — Federal Conviction
27. José María Carambia — Moveré por Santa Cruz
28. Natalia Gadano — Moveré por Santa Cruz
29. Gerardo Zamora — Others
30. Elia Moreno — Others
31. José Emilio Neder — Others

🇦🇷🤝🇺🇸 Argentina-U.S. Trade Agreement

Official Publication – February 2026

📌 Background

• ✍️ Signatories: Pablo Quirno (Argentine Foreign Minister) and Jamieson Greer (USTR USA)
• 📍 Location: Washington D.C.
• 📅 Date: February 5, 2026
• 🎯 Objective: To establish a strategic framework for reciprocal trade and investment

🔑 Key Points

• ⚡ Energy: promotion of exploration and exploitation projects with international standards
• ⛏️ Critical minerals: cooperation on lithium and strategic resources
• 🏗️ Infrastructure: financing and development in transport and logistics
• 💻 Technology: knowledge transfer and access to innovation
• 🏢 Business presence: More than 330 U.S. companies already operating in Argentina

📊 Expected Impact

• 📈 Investments: greater predictability and clear rules to attract capital
• 🌍 Bilateral relationship: consolidation of the strategic alliance
• 💡 Innovation: access to new technologies and know-how
• 🚚 Competitiveness: improvement in logistics and exports

⚠️ Considerations

• 🔄 Opportunity: Argentina is positioned as a key partner in sectors of high global value
• 📉 Challenge: Will depend on macroeconomic stability and domestic compliance
• 🏛️ Political context: reinforces the alignment of Javier Milei's government with Donald Trump's administration

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