The beginning of 2026 marks a Turning point in collective collective bargaining from Argentina. In a scenario where price dynamics appear to be seeking a new equilibrium, economic chambers and unions have reconfigured their strategies, prioritizing longer-term wage agreements, strategic fixed amounts and technical review clauses.
While some sectors are consolidating gains in line with forecast inflation, there is a select group of The unions have managed to stand out from the averagefinal recompositions that will be at the top of the rankings for the first month of next year.
Next we analyze the three most important joint agreements This will impact workers’ pockets in January 2026.
The three unions that have finalized the highest salary increases for January 2026
Oiler
Combining one of the country’s most profitable activities with a dynamic linked to the export of value-added goods once again pushed the parameters and showed why they can usually compete with the best salary increases in the market.
Recently, the Oil and Ginning Federation (FTCIODyARA) and the Union of Oil Workers and Employees (SOEA) agreed to San Lorenzo new base salaries for the activity:
- $2,100,000 as of December 1st.
- $2,344,000 as of January 1st.
This difference implies a Salary increase of more than 11% between the two months mentioned. But the oil workers You will also receive a retroactive payment of 400,000 pesos and the bonus calculated as profit sharing. The latter will amount to US$1,886,748.60 and will come into force between January and February 2026..
With this show of strength, the oil producers’ union also staged a strike in December against the labor reform proposed by the government of Javier Milei, which is currently being discussed in extraordinary sessions in the National Congress. FTCIOdyARA is crucial to the goal of generating foreign exchange through exports, which is why a slowdown in activity is leaving a noticeable mark on the Argentine economy.
Metallurgists and metal mechanics
The Metallurgical Workers Union (UOM) has finalized a salary increase program based on gratuitous amounts for the coming months, providing 35,000 pesos by December 2025. But until January 2026, these workers are In addition to the 15,000 pesos, there will be an increase of 4.2%. In February and March there will only be free amounts.
At the same time, the hourly value for calculating December salary was $ 3,942.63, but from January 1, 2026 it increases to $ 4,108.22
For its part, the Association of Supervisors of the Metallurgical Industry of the Argentine Republic (ASIMRA) also agreed to a salary increase between December of this year and April 2026.
He Basic salary The activity will develop as follows:
- As of December 1st, $1,017,159
- As of January 1st, $1,059,880
- As of April 1, $1,112,823.
Between December and January the increase will be about 4%, but in addition these hierarchical workers will receive extraordinary amounts of 43,050 pesos in December and 18,450 pesos in January.
Plastics worker
The Union of Plastics Workers and Employees (UOYEP) agreed to a new one Salary increase of 13.25% for employees covered by collective agreement No. 797/22. The base salary increases will be staggered between September and February 2026 and for the salaries of An increase of 4.1% is in sight for December compared to November.
Thereafter, the cumulative regulation will be reduced to 1% in January and increased again to 3.9% in February.
At the same time, plastics workers are paid additional amounts of 30,000 pesos between December and February 2026.
Contextual analysis: Where will salaries go in 2026?
Companies will move to quarterly and even semi-annual salary increases in 2026, as was traditional in Argentina, where there was previously a scheme of two adjustments per year.
This scenario, intended for employees outside the agreement, can also be extended to the joint agreements of union members, which in many cases are already managed with agreements on these terms.
On the other hand, the unions accepted the circumvention of the government’s official “ceiling” which was below inflation “Bridge” fixed amounts to ensure immediate liquidity to its members without incurring permanent labor costs that SMEs cannot bear. The The momentum does not seem to be exhausted on the horizonas the joint ventures of retailers, truckers and other strong unions have shown in the last 30 days.
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