workers' strike in Chile and SouthAfrica

Barricades Set up in Several Spots of Chilean Capital
Santiago de Chile, Jul 11 (Prensa Latina) Several spots in the Chilean capital and the city of Concepcion reached today’s dawn blocked with barricades, in the beginning of a day for national strike and other mobilizations, called to by the Unitary Workers’ Union (CUT). Groups of citizens in twenty street crossings in this capital set tires on fire and placed other obstacles to hinder traffic. Agents of the Special Police Forces charged with water cannons and tear gas against the demonstrators, some of whom were hooded. In a sector of the emblematic avenue Alameda, protesters demanded re-nationalization of the natural resources, in order to be eligible for subsidies to buy apartments or houses.
Areas near the airport of Santiago were also blocked by demonstrators. The media reported that in the city of Concepcion, in the south central part of the country, several spots were blocked. Numerous guilds, public and private-sector workers, social movements and other organizations joined the strike called to by the CUT, including the Chilean Studetns’ Confederation. The protest marches planned for today should begin after 10:00, local time. The workers are demanding to put an end to Pension Fund Administrative Companies, a new labor institutions and a tax reform that distributes income and contributes to eradicate inequality in the country, as well as other demands by the social movements
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South Africa: Police On Alert As Miners Go On Strike
The police in Limpopo have deployed their Public Order Policing members to monitor the situation at JCI Consmurch Mine in Gravelotte where miners affiliated to the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) have embarked on a strike. On Tuesday approximately 134 workers started protesting underground demanding payments of their shares and have refused to resurface ever since. The strike action intensified on Thursday when 200 NUM-affiliated miners refused to go underground and staged a protest outside the mine’s premises. The striking miners dispersed peacefully but vowed to continue with their strike on Friday.No incidents have been reported but the police are keeping a close eye on the situation. The miners underground have been supplied with food by the mine management.
Issued by: South African Police Service