Nationwide anti-privatisation strike paralyses Asuncion
Nationwide anti-privatisation strike paralyses Asuncion
Thursday 27th Mar 2014
posted by Morning Star
The strike stopped transport services and closed schools and most businesses
Paraguay's capital Asuncion was paralysed on Wednesday by a nationwide strike against the privatisation plans of President Horacio Cartes. The strike stopped transport services and closed schools and most businesses in the south American country, said union leader Aldo Snead.
The unions want Mr Cartes to roll back a law enabling private companies to invest in government infrastructure. They are also demanding 25 per cent pay raises and more access to credit for poor people to start businesses.
Public Works Minister Ramon Jimenez said the sell-off plan included the international airport that serves Asuncion, state-owned water treatment plants and the construction of toll roads linking the capital with Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. It also affected the agency that dredges the Paraguay river and keeps the landlocked country with a navigable sea outlet.
President Cartes acknowledged that Paraguay's workers have legitimate complaints, but has shown no sign of backing down.
More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-241b-Nationwide-anti-privatisation-strike-paralyses-Asuncion#.UzSGHWePLmQ
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Paraguay paralyzed by anti-privatization strike
The Associated Press March 26, 2014
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Public life in Paraguay was largely paralyzed on Wednesday by a nationwide strike against the privatization plans of President Horacio Cartes.
The strike stopped bus and taxi service and closed schools and most businesses in the South American country, union leader Aldo Snead said.
The unions want Cartes to roll back a law enabling private companies to invest in government infrastructure in exchange for owning concessions and charging fees. They also are demanding 25 percent pay raises and more access to credit for poor people to start their own small businesses.
Public Works Minister Ramon Jimenez said the public-private investment plan includes the international airport that serves Paraguay's capital, state-owned water treatment plants and the construction of international toll roads linking Asuncion with Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. It also affects the agency that dredges the Paraguay river and keeps the landlocked country with a navigable outlet to the sea.
Cartes acknowledged that Paraguay's workers have legitimate historic complaints, but has showed no signs of backing down. As crowds of strikers marched past closed storefronts, the president held his routine weekly meeting with armed forces leaders.
http://www.thestate.com/2014/03/26/3350229/paraguay-paralyzed-by-anti-privatization.html#storylink=cpy
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There's a great difference in the quality of presence in the faces of these protesters, people whose lives are deeply affected by government choices against their basic needs, isn't there? Not one ####ing smug, nasty face in the bunch.
In time, these people or their children will WIN.[/center]