Chilean capital paralyzed by public strike

Activities in several major cities in Chile including the capital Santiago have slowed down considerably during the first day of a nationwide strike. Garbage has started to pile on the streets, school has been suspended and hospitals are only serving emergency cases as a reported 500,000 government workers are on strike.

The main sticking point appears to be the 5% pay increase proposed by the Bachelet administration which labor leaders rejected as too low. Today’s actions come on the heels of a two-day work stoppage last week.

Union leaders and government representatives have both been reportedly willing to have negotiations. Yet both sides are prepared for what could be a prolonged strike:

“For the government this strike is unfair because at the end of the day hundreds of thousands of Chileans are paying the price,” said (government spokesman Francisco) Vidal to Cooperativa radio.

The spokesman also affirmed that “the claims of government workers cannot trespass the rights of citizens”…

Meanwhile, ANEF (labor union head) Raul de la Puente said that “we want is an ethical salary…” – [ed. personal translation]

Image- La Tercera
Sources (English)- AP, IHT, CNN
Sources (Spanish)- La Tercera, La Nacion