The mobilization seeks to pressure Congress to guarantee workers’ rights, said a SintraONGS spokesperson.

On Thursday, Colombians continued their two-day national strike in support of a popular referendum on labor reform promoted by President Gustavo Petro.

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Colombians Launch 48-Hour National Strike in Support of Labor Reform Referendum

In Bogota, workers, and students gathered in the morning at the National Park with flags and loudspeakers, organized by the leftist Historic Pact party, the Single Central of Workers (CUT), the Colombian Federation of Educators (FECODE), the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), and other grassroots social organizations.

Citizens marched through the streets to the rhythm of batucada in a spectacle that included some protesters on stilts waving Colombian flags. As the march advanced along Seventh Avenue, people from other parts of the city joined the mobilization, which maintained a festive and combative tone.

The massive march arrived at Bolivar Square, where citizens waved Colombian and Palestinian flags, symbolizing the convergence of social struggles in the agenda of the popular mobilization.

“This mobilization is part of the national strike to pressure Congress to guarantee workers’ rights,” said Yeimi Cante, spokesperson for the Union of Workers of Non-Governmental and Social Organizations (SintraONGS).

The text reads, “Colombia is facing a second day of national strike in support of Petro’s reforms. Colombian unions have once again called on the population to take to the streets and join the massive national strike also planned for this Thursday.”

Bolivar Square was filled with banners proclaiming “The referendum will happen because it will happen” and “The people say so and they are right,” while citizens shouted slogans against 30 years of neoliberal governments that have stripped Colombians of their labor rights with the false promise of creating more jobs.

“Labor legislation is more than 80 years old. We are proposing that it should be more progressive and updated in accordance with reality,” said CGT President Percy Oyola, who announced that another national strike has been called for June 11.

“Today we are here because the social, political, and popular summit determined that we would hold a 48-hour strike,” he added, denouncing that the political elites “continue to steal Colombia’s chances of having better working conditions.”

This week, social protests were sparked by the Senate’s rejection of a referendum on labor reform, which was proposed by President Petro, who called on citizens to take to the streets to defend social justice.

“We’re here because this issue isn’t just about politics, it’s about dignity. We don’t want to grow up in a country where working means precariousness and fear of getting sick,” said Mariana, a sociology student who was marching with a banner demanding the approval of the referendum.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – teleSUR

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