Bolivia's main union declared an indefinite strike on Friday, Labor Day, believing that the center-right government had not responded to its demands, against a backdrop of deep economic crisis in the country.
The Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) is demanding, among other things, a 20% increase in the minimum wage, the repeal of a tax reform targeting small traders and an increase in retirement pensions.
Waving banners under a blazing sun at 4,000 meters above sea level, different sectors including teachers and miners responded to the COB's call to gather in the city of El Alto, near La Paz (west).
"From today, the unlimited general strike (...) is declared, until the government understands the demands of the people", launched the general secretary of the COB, Mario Argollo.
“The fight is hard, but we will win!” chanted more than a thousand workers in front of the stage.
In addition, the union rejects the possible closure of public companies, calls for limiting food exports in order to guarantee the country's supplies and calls for stabilizing the exchange rate as well as repealing a law modifying the regime for small farms.
President Rodrigo Paz sharply criticized union leaders for their demand for a wage increase, while his government already raised the minimum wage by 20% in January.
“If you want to increase wages, start by creating jobs,” declared the head of state during a ceremony in Cochabamba (center).
This week, other sectors mobilized, including transporters, teachers, miners, doctors and indigenous people, putting pressure on Rodrigo Paz, who came to power in November after 20 years of socialist governments of Evo Morales (2006-2019) and Luis Arce (2020-2025).
A long policy of fuel subsidies, abolished in December, left the Andean country without foreign currency, causing its worst crisis in four decades.
Inflation in March reached 15% year-on-year, after peaking at 25% in July.
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