Argentina's government is defending its decision to lay off some 6,200 public workers, according to AP. The government says many employees hired during the previous administration never even showed up for work. It also warned Thursday that it could order even more layoffs. The move has infuriated the State Workers Association union. Its secretary general Hugo Godoy says workers will stage a nationwide strike on Feb. 24. He is accusing the government of falsely claiming that public employees are getting paid without doing any work as an excuse to remove them from their posts. The government says the layoffs are justified. New President Mauricio Macri took office on Dec. 10.
