Chilean unions call for emergency aid due to pandemic bites and Coronavirus pandemic News

Wearing mandatory masks and holding permits that allowed them to circulate, more than 20 representatives of Chile’s major unions tried to persuade special forces police to deliver a letter to President Sebastian Pinera.

Barbara Figueroa, president of the CUT (United Workers ’Confederation) led the delegation to the Presidential Palace of the Currency, where she was told she would be allowed to enter the building.

“We’re all going or no one is going,” Figueroa said. “We are all representing our unions, including teachers, metro workers, Walmart supermarkets, teachers and medical staff. We need the President to receive our request. “

As he spoke, police suddenly began arresting a dozen union leaders and putting up vans to take them to the nearest police station, accused of disturbing the peace when the pandemic occurred.

It was a bad start to the national strike called by the CUT, which represents almost 9% of salaried workers. They were joined by 35,000 public service workers, including state television and CODELCO, Chile’s largest mining company. Chile is the largest copper producer and exporter in the world.

The letter that Figueroa sent along with those who were not arrested explains three key requests.

“We have warned the government to ignore this: first, the emergency medical payment of 500,000 pesos ($ 700) for all the unemployed; freezing the minimum wage and food prices above the poverty line, ”Figueroa said.

Speaking, President Pinera met with leaders of both houses of Congress to discuss a new emergency aid package for Chileans.

People are fighting

Food kitchens have spread rapidly across the country since the pandemic began. Unemployment has risen to almost 11 percent. But so far, government financial support has proved inadequate and difficult to access due to excessive bureaucracy.

“I receive less than 1,000 pesos ($ 142) from my pension. I can’t pay rent and electricity, gas or water with that, so I don’t pay the bills or eat properly. And I haven’t received a penny from the government since the pandemic started, ”said 78-year-old retiree Rosa Diaz, who supports the strike.

As the vast majority of the country remains in compulsory confinement, the strike has had a mostly symbolic impact. However, throughout the day there were small marches and protests across the country. He seems to have been pressured to reconsider requests for urgent help.

“We applaud the government’s decision to finally meet with the heads of Congress. We have always said that state support should be for everyone, not just for a select few. and to overcome this pandemic, ”said Deputy Raul Soto, head of the PPD Party’s center-left bank.

The Chilean General Workers’ Union passes posters reading “Decent Health” and “We Demand” at a rally called for emergency aid and to improve wages and working conditions. [Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters]

To help pay more aid, the opposition has proposed a tax bill for the so-called “super-rich”. The tax would rise by 2.5% once, for 1,500 very wealthy Chileans. But as expected, there has been resistance from the country’s powerful business sector.

Chile’s most prominent union leader believes the worst would come.

“Yes, we have an economic emergency now, with families with nothing to eat. But then, when the time comes to reactivate the economy, when there are a large number of people who are desperate for work, this will provide a breeding ground for enriching employers, ”Figueroa warned.

“They want to offer even worse wages and working conditions. That’s why we need to take action now.”