A massive turnout on the streets of Buenos Aires. It's part of a national strike called by the country's unions. They oppose a series of austerity measures pushed by President Mauricio Macri. He's behind it to fight inflation and turn around a flagging economy. Argentina's unions are traditionally powerful, but as CGTN's Joel Richards reports, wage negotiations are just part of the tension between trade union leaders and the government.

It is carnival month in Argentina. But the hundreds of thousands who filled the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday afternoon were not celebrating. Here, they were protesting austerity measures. The traditionally powerful trade unions were divided over this march, not all unions took part in the protest. But the Argentine capital was brought to standstill.

ROBERTO BARADEL TEACHERS UNION LEADER "This a march with many sectors - the majority of people who are affected by austerity measures of the government."

Author Nicolas Damin says wage negotiations that are taking place this month have led to tension as the government is looking to make Argentina more competitive.

NICOLAS DAMIN AUTHOR, RIGHTS UNION ORGANIZATIONS & POLITICS "The government wants to reduce some costs of transport in Argentina in order to be able to export with a better price and in a way the government believes they need to reduce the cost of labour."

The government is trying to drive down inflation, with prices rising by nearly 25% last year, the second highest inflation rate in Latin America after Venezuela.

MAURICIO MACRI ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENT "Argentina has had many years and decades with inflation and is part of why we could not develop and why we have a large part of the population in poverty."

But unions say they have already lost spending power because of utility tariff hikes. In recent weeks some union leaders have been detained on corruption charges and perhaps the country's most powerful leader, Hugo Moyano, now also faces investigation.

PABLO MICHELI ARGENTINA CENTRAL UNION LEADER "They are trying to convince Argentines that we are all criminals, mafiosos and millionaires. But that is not true."

Pablo Micheli leads a union with over one million members. While he publishes his tax returns, he says there are corrupt leaders. But he says most leaders fight for workers rights and he believes unions still have a vital role in Argentina.

"We are at a critical time for workers, and that is with strong unions. Imagine if we didn't have unions. We would be even worse off."

The government has targeted 15% inflation this year but tariff hikes are already pushing up prices this year. As wage negotiations stall, leaders are now considering a full national strike for next month. Joel Richards, CGTN, Buenos Aires.