Uruguay marches on free trade scam
Uruguay Marches on Free Trade Scam
Montevideo, Sept 21 2006 (Prensa Latina) — Hundreds of Uruguayan workers marched July 18 in front of the Economy Ministry in this capital to reject signing of a US free trade treaty.
The demonstration was part of a four hour general work stoppage called by the PIT-CNT trade union against that treaty, and they also demanded better salaries.
The decision made the main ministries and State enterprises close their doors to the public while health facilities limited themselves to emergency duty.
Meanwhile, transportation workers support the strike but say they will keep working, while taxi drivers start at 16:00 local time.
The Minister of labour and Social Security Eduardo Bonomi said that although there is certain progress some employers do not agree with the implementation of salary hikes.
The shortage of jobs is still beating Uruguay, where over one million citizens live in poverty. Around 50 percent of children there are born under poverty, recognized the minister of Social Development Marina Arismendi.
