Visit the COLOMBIAN LABOR MONITOR at http://www.prairienet.org/clm =========================================== As with last week's strike, which virtually paralysed state-run hospitals, schools and other basic services for two days running, Borja said the new job action was aimed at forcing the government into revoking a fiscal adjustment programme due to take effect later this year. _________________________ =========================================== REUTERS Monday, 28 September 1998 Colombian workers plan new anti-austerity strike ------------------------------------------------ BOGOTA -- Colombia's public sector workers, fresh from a 48-hour strike last week, are preparing an indefinite, nationwide work stoppage to force the government into shelving its economic austerity plan, union leaders said on Monday. Wilson Borja, head of the 700,000-member public sector union known as Fenaltrase, told Reuters in a phone interview no definitive strike deadline had been set yet. But he said October 7 was the most likely start date, and it would be voted upon at a union meeting Wednesday. As with last week's strike, which virtually paralysed state-run hospitals, schools and other basic services for two days running, Borja said the new job action was aimed at forcing the government into revoking a fiscal adjustment programme due to take effect later this year. The programme is designed to close gaping budget deficits that President Andres Pastrana inherited from the discredited administration of his predecessor, former president Ernesto Samper, when he took office last month. But Borja and other labour leaders say it calls for too many sacrifices from Colombia's working-class, which is already burdened with double-digit inflation, soaring unemployment and interest rates, and steadily eroding wages. ``The strike is because of the fiscal adjustment,'' he said, adding that the austerity measures planned by Pastrana's government represented ``an assault against all Colombians.'' Borja said he recognised the need to address the fiscal imbalances and economic crisis that were part of Samper's legacy to Pastrana. But he said measures planned by Finance Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo --including strict wage controls and a broad-based increase in the range of products and services subject to Colombia's onerous value-added tax-- sought to ram austerity down the throats of people already on the brink of poverty and serious social unrest. ``You can't solve a crisis by beating up on everyone,'' Borja said. ``Sacrifices should only be made by those who are able to make them.'' As with last week's strike, the indefinite work stoppage would be backed by Colombia's militant state oil workers' union, known as USO. But unlike last week, oil workers would seek to disrupt production the next time they downed tools, according to Cesar Carrillo, one of the USO's top bosses and a veteran labour activist. Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited ___________________________________________________________________________ *********************************************************************** * COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK: To subscribe to CSN-L send request to * * [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUB CSN-L Firstname Lastname * * (Direct questions or comments about CSN-L to [EMAIL PROTECTED]) * * Visit the website of CSN's Champaign-Urbana (Illinois) chapter at * * http://www.prairienet.org/csncu Subscribe to the COLOMBIA BULLETIN * * For free copy and info contact CSN, P.O. Box 1505, Madison WI 53701 * * or call (608) 257-8753 fax: (608) 255-6621 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Visit the COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK at http://www.igc.org/csn * * Visit the COLOMBIAN LABOR MONITOR at http://www.prairienet.org/clm * ***********************************************************************
[PEN-L:291] Colombian workers plan new anti-austerity strike
Colombian Labor Monitor Tue, 29 Sep 1998 15:32:39 -0500 (CDT)