Empty train stations and unusually long bus lines marked Thursday in key points of Buenos Aires City and its outskirts during the 24-hour general strike called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT, by its Spanish initials).

The CGT hailed the strike as a “resounding success.” In a press conference, they called on the government to change its income policy and sent the Milei administration a message: “You have to turn off the chainsaw.”

Earlier in the day, the government described the strike as an “attack against the Republic” in a message seen on displays and broadcast at train stations starting Wednesday night. “The unions’ caste goes against millions of Argentines who want to work,” it said, while also inviting people who felt “extorted or forced” into joining to call 134 and report it.

President Javier Milei’s administration had already used this tactic during a massive pensioners protest on March 19, saying that police would “crack down on all attacks against the Republic.” In previous strikes they had also pointed against union leaders by name through these messages.

Major unions joined the strike, including train, subway and aviation workers, as well as bank employees. However, bus drivers were not able to join due to a ruling forbidding them to carry out any protest measures as part of an ongoing salary negotiation.

People who still had to — or wanted to — attend their jobs on Thursday swarmed bus stops. Lines of half-a-block could be seen in Buenos Aires City neighborhoods like Liniers, as well as larger suburbs in the outskirts, like Lanús or Laferrere. 

“All the people who should be at the train station are here,” a man called Brian told C5N news station while standing in a long bus line at 6:18 a.m., in front of the train station in Laferrere, Buenos Aires Province. 

“I should have taken [the bus] at 5:10. The buses are full and don’t stop,” he said.

In the Buenos Aires airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the halls usually full of travelers were empty and screens showed all flights were canceled. In the Ministro Pistarini airport in Ezeiza, only Flybondi domestic flights and Jetsmart international departures were operating. In a statement, Flybondi said they were able to operate “34 of its scheduled 51 flights.”

You can check a full detail of what services are operating here.