High school protesters in Chile demonstrate at subways against a fare hike. The movement has exploded in recent days. (Photo: Rebel Diaz/Facebook)
Oct 21, 2019
As protests against the Chilean government continued Monday, trade unions across the South American country called for a general strike to support demonstrators drawing attention to the nation's high cost of living, inequality, and injustice.
"We can't remain indifferent to the social movement out there," Escondida Union No. 1 president Patricio Tapia, whose organization voted to stop work at the Escondida copper mine for 10 hours Monday night or Tuesday morning, told Bloomberg Monday. "Something's not right with this country and 14-year-olds were the first ones to say so--now it's workers' turn to say enough is enough."
The movement began with high schoolers protesting subway fare hikes but exploded across the country over the weekend to encompass a wide array of issues after a police crackdown on the teenagers drew widespread anger and outrage.
As Common Dreams reported, billionaire right-wing President Sebastian Pinera has declared a state of emergency over the protest movement and, on Saturday, tried to defuse the situation by suspending the fare increase.
A number of unions said Sunday they were calling for a general strike in solidarity with the burgeoning protest movement.
"Sebastian Pinera does not understand the underlying reasons for the widespread citizen protest throughout the territory," the unions said in their declaration of intent to strike. "With his attitude, it is clear that he is not in a position to continue directing the country."
\u201c#Chile Unions call for a general strike to support protests against a transit fare hike, that erupted into mass demonstrations over economic inequalities. The gov't declared a #curfew & called the army onto the streets, clashes led to at least 11 deaths.\n\ud83d\udcf0https://t.co/VIKqSIHahS\u201d— Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico (@Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico) 1571685898
Protester Constanza Gonzalez told the BBC that the unrest is based in long simmering resentment.
"I think people are angry and this was a thing that had been coming for quite a long time," said Gonzalez.
Professor Richard D. Wolff tweeted that the protests were the natural outcome of an unstable system.
"Deepening inequalities in all capitalist economies over recent decades (first neoliberalism and now neo-protectionism) produce predictable explosions," said Wolff.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
As protests against the Chilean government continued Monday, trade unions across the South American country called for a general strike to support demonstrators drawing attention to the nation's high cost of living, inequality, and injustice.
"We can't remain indifferent to the social movement out there," Escondida Union No. 1 president Patricio Tapia, whose organization voted to stop work at the Escondida copper mine for 10 hours Monday night or Tuesday morning, told Bloomberg Monday. "Something's not right with this country and 14-year-olds were the first ones to say so--now it's workers' turn to say enough is enough."
The movement began with high schoolers protesting subway fare hikes but exploded across the country over the weekend to encompass a wide array of issues after a police crackdown on the teenagers drew widespread anger and outrage.
As Common Dreams reported, billionaire right-wing President Sebastian Pinera has declared a state of emergency over the protest movement and, on Saturday, tried to defuse the situation by suspending the fare increase.
A number of unions said Sunday they were calling for a general strike in solidarity with the burgeoning protest movement.
"Sebastian Pinera does not understand the underlying reasons for the widespread citizen protest throughout the territory," the unions said in their declaration of intent to strike. "With his attitude, it is clear that he is not in a position to continue directing the country."
\u201c#Chile Unions call for a general strike to support protests against a transit fare hike, that erupted into mass demonstrations over economic inequalities. The gov't declared a #curfew & called the army onto the streets, clashes led to at least 11 deaths.\n\ud83d\udcf0https://t.co/VIKqSIHahS\u201d— Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico (@Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico) 1571685898
Protester Constanza Gonzalez told the BBC that the unrest is based in long simmering resentment.
"I think people are angry and this was a thing that had been coming for quite a long time," said Gonzalez.
Professor Richard D. Wolff tweeted that the protests were the natural outcome of an unstable system.
"Deepening inequalities in all capitalist economies over recent decades (first neoliberalism and now neo-protectionism) produce predictable explosions," said Wolff.
As protests against the Chilean government continued Monday, trade unions across the South American country called for a general strike to support demonstrators drawing attention to the nation's high cost of living, inequality, and injustice.
"We can't remain indifferent to the social movement out there," Escondida Union No. 1 president Patricio Tapia, whose organization voted to stop work at the Escondida copper mine for 10 hours Monday night or Tuesday morning, told Bloomberg Monday. "Something's not right with this country and 14-year-olds were the first ones to say so--now it's workers' turn to say enough is enough."
The movement began with high schoolers protesting subway fare hikes but exploded across the country over the weekend to encompass a wide array of issues after a police crackdown on the teenagers drew widespread anger and outrage.
As Common Dreams reported, billionaire right-wing President Sebastian Pinera has declared a state of emergency over the protest movement and, on Saturday, tried to defuse the situation by suspending the fare increase.
A number of unions said Sunday they were calling for a general strike in solidarity with the burgeoning protest movement.
"Sebastian Pinera does not understand the underlying reasons for the widespread citizen protest throughout the territory," the unions said in their declaration of intent to strike. "With his attitude, it is clear that he is not in a position to continue directing the country."
\u201c#Chile Unions call for a general strike to support protests against a transit fare hike, that erupted into mass demonstrations over economic inequalities. The gov't declared a #curfew & called the army onto the streets, clashes led to at least 11 deaths.\n\ud83d\udcf0https://t.co/VIKqSIHahS\u201d— Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico (@Human Rights Oaxaca Mexico) 1571685898
Protester Constanza Gonzalez told the BBC that the unrest is based in long simmering resentment.
"I think people are angry and this was a thing that had been coming for quite a long time," said Gonzalez.
Professor Richard D. Wolff tweeted that the protests were the natural outcome of an unstable system.
"Deepening inequalities in all capitalist economies over recent decades (first neoliberalism and now neo-protectionism) produce predictable explosions," said Wolff.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.