Sunday, August 28, 2011

Chile: International union support

Some 175,000 people participated in mass union-led protests in dozens of towns across Chile on Thursday.

The demonstrations marked the second and final day of a national strike demanding free education, stronger labour rights and a new constitution.

At least 50,000 turned out in Santiago, despite occasional clashes between riot police and youth and the arrest of 874 protesters the previous day.

The International Trade Union Confederation strongly condemned the violence and repression that accompanied the strike, saying that authorities had attacked peaceful demonstrators with rubber bullets and water cannons.

Speaking in Santiago, ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow said: "I am honoured to accompany the brothers and sisters in this struggle for free education, for health, social security, a new Labour Code and a new constitution.

"I bring the greetings of 175 million workers worldwide who watch this proud mobilisation."

Ms Burrows reminded Chile's billionaire President Sebastián Piñera that: "In a real democracy, people have a legitimate right to demonstrate and demand change.

"There is no place for violence and the authorities' repression aimed at stopping the strike and demonstrations is totally unacceptable."

The ITUC and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, its regional organisation, have vowed to continue to support the Chilean trade union movement.

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