The government appealed the ruling that reinstated the State Workers' Labor Day holiday.

Table of Contents

White House spokesman Manuel Adorni confirmed on Friday night that the Government decided to appeal the ruling that reinstated the holiday for Labor Day in the State. In a strong criticism of labor judge Moira Fullana, the spokesman stated that "she acted outside her competence and violated constitutional guarantees."

The judicial decision that reinstated the non-working day had been issued on Thursday, following a presentation made by public sector unions. In response, the administration of Javier Milei filed an appeal with the Labor Chamber, in which they argue that the magistrate ruled on an administrative norm from a labor court, which they consider inappropriate.

"Today, the Government has appealed a labor judge's measure that annulled the elimination of the holiday for Public Employee Day," Adorni reported on his social media account X, where he also accused Fullana of incorrectly applying Law 26,854, which regulates precautionary measures in the administrative sphere. "We cannot accept that the law is distorted to impose private interests," added the spokesperson.

aDordni tuit.png

According to the Executive, the judge should have referred the case to the administrative litigation jurisdiction, which is competent to analyze this type of decree. In the appeal, the Government also highlighted that the elimination of the holiday was ordered through a decree as part of an austerity plan, in line with the objectives of public expenditure control.

The controversy arose after the Executive announced the elimination of the holiday for state employees, a measure that was challenged by unions through injunctions and judicial claims. Judge Fullana upheld those presentations and resolved to reinstate the non-working day, considering that it is an acquired right whose elimination represents a step backward in terms of labor protection.

From the Casa Rosada, the response was immediate. Adorni yesterday accused the "judicial caste" of acting in defense of the "union caste" after Judge Moira Fullana issued a restraining measure to halt the effects of the decree that eliminated the holiday on June 27 for public employees.

Adorni.jpeg

The spokesman questioned harshly the judicial resolution that reinstates the State Worker's Day: "The union mafia managed to have the judicial class, in record time, protect one of their privileges once again."

The spokesman also referred to the magistrate as a "militant" and labeled her as "incompetent" for misquoting the article of the DNU in her resolution. "So rushed was the ruling that the incompetent judge Fullana made a mistake in the article she aims to suspend with the injunction," he pointed out.

Milei's decree

President Javier Milei officially signed a decree this Thursday that eliminates the holiday for Labor Day in the public sector, a measure that generated strong opposition from state unions, particularly ATE, which called for employees not to go to their workplaces as a form of protest.

The national government's decision was quickly embroiled in a judicial controversy. Hours after the publication of Decree 430/25, a judge granted a preliminary injunction filed by ATE (General Confederation of Public Employees) and nullified the application of the regulation for the workers represented by that union. The Executive Branch announced it will appeal the ruling.

In defense of the decree, the Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger, argued that the elimination of the holiday responds to the objective of "reinstating the culture of work," and detailed that the non-working day was costing the State about 11 billion pesos. "Small gestures that reinstate the culture of work. VLLC," he wrote on his X account.

The official also confirmed that the cost-cutting plan will continue with new measures involving the merger or elimination of decentralized agencies and more layoffs in the public administration. According to the details provided, since the start of Milei's term, 50,591 government jobs have been eliminated, representing a 10.1% reduction in state personnel. This, it was claimed, has allowed for an estimated annual savings of $2 billion.

Of the total layoffs, 29,499 corresponded to the central administration and decentralized bodies, 15,592 to state-owned enterprises, and 5,500 to personnel of the Armed Forces and Security.

From the presidential circle, voices also joined in support of the measure. Javier Lanari, Deputy Secretary of Press and Communication, stated: "The Government came to reinstate the culture of work and to eliminate caste privileges. The holiday for Public Employee Day is gone. We need to regain the values that made Argentina great."