Argentine teachers' strike delays school year
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's teachers are on strike after rejecting a 31 percent pay hike, delaying the first day of school for nearly 6 million children.
The government wants to phase in that raise over 16 months, but with consumer prices rising at 55 percent on an annual basis, teachers say they'll be left far behind. They're insisting on much higher raises and a new round of pay talks in just six months if inflation doesn't slow down.
Starting pay for many teachers in Argentina is just $433 a month at the official exchange rate.
Every other union in Argentina is watching closely, because their salary talks come next. Court workers, doctors and nurses and park guards also were on strike Wednesday for similar reasons.
