Today in our classes we learned more about the ministry from the current deputy minister of health Dr. Daniel Ferrante. Afterwards we had another lecture at Austral University, from Dr. Gabriel Leverstein. He gave us great insight into the social unions (obras sociales) within Argentina, and the roles they play within the Argentinian healthcare system.
One of the first points Dr. Leverstein made to us was that every person who has a job in Argentina must belong to a union. Unions in Argentina play a pivotal role in the country’s social safety net. The unions act as a voice for workers across various industries. The unions are able to do this through collective bargaining, as they negotiate with employers to establish fair wages, reasonable working hours, and improved working conditions. However, it was made it clear to us that how we thought the unions had a lot of the power before coming to Argentina, that most of the unions, though being an active safety net for the people, often times are not fully stable and there are only few that have power, and most do not have much. These negotiations within the unions not only benefit union members directly but also set standards that often extend to non-unionized workers, thus contributing to a more equitable labor landscape.
Additionally, unions also advocate for the enforcement of labor laws and regulations, ensuring that workers’ rights are protected and upheld, and often provide vital social protections to their members. With these being upheld another important thing we learned is that with all these protections and benefits, we got a breakdown of the cost inflation and how it costs more now to be apart of a union now then it used to with the price going from $5.7 a month to now $13.8. However it was interesting to learn about the group of 4 million workers known as the Monitributo, who are allowed to pick which union they choose to belong to, and they pay less then the normal rate as the government does not know how much they make exactly per month as they are self employed.
Beyond their main functions, unions in Argentina also serve as important agents of social change. They participate in broader movements advocating for social justice, economic equality, and democratic governance. Through collective action and solidarity, unions mobilize their members to address systemic issues such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. These include access to healthcare, unemployment benefits, and retirement plans. In a country where social security systems may be more unreliable, union-sponsored benefits can serve as a crucial safety net for workers and their families. Unions help in creating a sense of stability and help alleviate economic burdens faced by their members and contribute to the overall well being of the society as a whole.
