GENERAL STRIKE IN ARGENTINA
>Status:
>
>Forward from mart.,
>Date: November 25, 2000 12:56 PM
>Subject: [gangbox] Fwd: GENERAL STRIKE IN ARGENTINA
>
>
>
>
>
> from EXCITE.COM NEWS:
>
> National Strike Paralyzes Argentina
> Associated Press
> Last Updated: Nov. 24, 2000 at 4:50:08 p.m.
> BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Millions of workers stayed off their jobs Friday
>in
> the largest national strike in years as a union-led protest against
> government belt-tightening measures virtually paralyzed Argentina.
>
> Deadly violence erupted when a motorcyclist, angry at being blocked from
> crossing a bridge, shot dead a striker and wounded another in northeastern
>
> Chaco province as the 36-hour stoppage by the country's three most
>powerful
> unions claimed its first victim.
>
> During the second day of the strike, protesters blocked roads and highways
>
> across Argentina with flaming tires. The strike forced schools and
>businesses
> to shut down, and transportation, energy and banking services were all
>closed.
>
> The strike even hit Argentina's national passion - causing the
>postponement
> of soccer matches.
>
> In Neuquen, 640 miles southwest of Buenos Aires, 15 youths looted a
> supermarket and injured a policeman who tried to arrest them, police said.
>
> The Interior Ministry reported 34 arrests in strike-related incidents
>across
> the country.
>
> The strike was a response to President Fernando De la Rua's call for more
> economic austerity for a recession-bound nation where the unemployment
>rate
> tops 15 percent. It is the third and largest strike during his year-old
> presidency.
>
> The strike was called 10 days ago, after De la Rua announced a five-year
> public spending freeze, an increase in the retirement age and changes to
>the
> pension system.
>
> The new sacrifices came on top of an earlier austerity campaign that
>raised
> taxes, lowered salaries for state workers and reformed labor laws.
>
> The measures are backed by international lenders who say they are needed
>if
> Argentina is to receive billions of dollars worth of fresh loans.
>
> The protest began Thursday, when thousands of workers poured out of
>offices
> and factories, and union stalwarts blocked roads, beating drums and
>sending
> bottle rockets screeching overhead.
>
> The strike climaxed Friday with the country's biggest union joined the
> strike, sending workers from hospitals, trains, gas stations, banks and
> garbage collection services onto the streets.
>
> Despite the death and arrests, the government said it was satisfied the
> strike was mostly peaceful.
>
> A heavy police presence across Argentina's 24 provinces discouraged
>violence.
>
> Several union groups refused to comply with a government order that they
> provide ``minimum services'' during the strike.
>
> In Buenos Aires province, bus services dropped well below the demanded 50
> percent, with many drivers supporting the strike and others reluctant to
> incur the wrath of colleagues by working.
>
> On Friday, De la Rua took aim at the strikers, saying the stoppage had
>been
> ``rejected and repudiated by the people.''
>
> Strike leaders, however, hailed the stoppage as a success that had the
>near
> unanimous support of workers.
>_______________________________________________________
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