[PEN-L:291] Colombian workers plan new anti-austerity strike

[Colombian Labor Monitor <xx738@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     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
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