Yesterday, Monday July 7th, the Manaco conflict reached the Ministry of Labor in the City of La Paz when 11 leaders of the General Factory Workers Federation of Bolivia set up a hunger strike picket in its offices. The picket was lifted today, July 8th, after ministry authorities signed an agreement in which they committed to sending, on Wednesday the 9th, an authorized commission to Cochabamba to resolve the conflict. The commission would be headed by the Vice Minister of Work, Labor Development and Cooperatives, Adalberto Rojas.

The announcement by the Ministry of Labor did not stop the vigil held by workers and social organizations in Cochabamba’s main Plaza. About 400 people and representatives of several organization like factory worker syndicates such as the Cochabamba Tenants’ Organization (OINCO) are present

March and vigil in front of Federation headquarters on Tuesday afternoon
© Boris Ríos Brito for UB

During the rally the striking workers expressed their gratitude to the participants and said that the vigil, a “joyful act of protest,” demonstrated that the situation of labor market flexibilization, abuses and other evils, is not only a problem for their unjustly fired colleague Alejandro Saravia, nor of the illegal contracts for workers from Manaco and hundreds of factories, but of the entire population.

The striking workers, who during the hours of the morning on their ninth and fifth striking day were examined by a physician from the National Health Board, decided to remain steadfast in their measure until they obtain their objectives of respect and work stability in Manaco and other factories.

Medical Examination of Alejandro Saravia
© Boris Ríos Brito for UB

It is hoped that by tomorrow, there will be concrete and viable responses to the demands. If not, strikers have promised to radicalize their measures.