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Protests in Bolivia reached their third day as the main trade union and transport and education workers demonstrated for policy changes. The actions follow the government's decision to remove a long-standing fuel subsidy, contributing to an ongoing economic crisis. Demonstrations have included street blockades and clashes with police in several cities.
winnipegfreepress.comProtests in Bolivia entered their third day on Tuesday as three separate groups called for reforms to agricultural, educational and labour policies. The country's main trade union, the Bolivian Workers’ Centre (COB), had called a strike the previous Friday.
That strike coincided with labour reform protests held around the globe to mark International Workers’ Day. The South American nation has been experiencing its largest economic crisis in 40 years, including a shortage of foreign currency. On Tuesday, COB members joined transport and education workers in street demonstrations.
Police fired tear gas at protesters near the presidential palace in La Paz, while public workers in nearby El Alto blocked streets using buses, cars and trucks. Transport workers are seeking compensation for engine damage they attribute to the removal of a decades-old fuel subsidy that had kept petrol prices at 2006 levels.
They say the change forced them to use lower-quality fuel. The workers are also demanding shorter queues at filling stations and road repairs.
The government ended the fuel subsidy as part of efforts to address a budgetary crisis and low foreign currency reserves. A litre of diesel previously cost 3.72 bolivianos under the subsidy and premium petrol 3.74 bolivianos. Without the subsidy those prices rose to 9.80 bolivianos for diesel and 6.96 bolivianos for premium petrol.
The strikes halted public transport in major cities including La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, Oruro and Sucre. The actions created at least 70 roadway blockages, according to the Bolivia Highway Association. COB has called for an indefinite general strike.
COB is seeking a 20 percent increase in the minimum wage, which currently stands at 3,300 bolivianos per month after taking effect in January. That rate had been 2,750 bolivianos in 2025. The union is also calling for pension increases and reductions in salaries for government officials.
A teachers’ union separately demanded a state-funded single free public education system. COB’s Secretary-General Mario Argollo told a group of 1,000 supporters that a general, indefinite and active strike had been declared. "Starting today, a general, indefinite and active strike is declared, until the government understands the people’s demands," he said.
Officials have pushed back on the wage demands, stating that job creation must come before salary increases. The country had sought $3.3 billion in financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund in February. By March its finance minister reported that dollar bond coupon payments would be met, after which Moody’s raised the country’s credit rating.
Inflation stood at 15 percent that month, down from a 25 percent peak the previous July.
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