General Strike Brings Uruguay to a Halt

Hundreds of thousands of workers took part in the first general strike in Uruguay in seven years Thursday, as the government's five year budgetary planning looms.

The trade union federation PIT-CNT has called on its 400,000 members to refuse to work fot 24 hours, while other unions have vowed to join the general strike.

Transport union UNOTT began its strike on Wednesday night, bringing public transport nationwide to a halt. In a statement, UNOTT said it joined the general strike over concerns workers could “lose purchasing power” over the next five years. Earlier in the day, teachers also went on strike.

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The strike comes ahead of the government's presentation of its five year budget, which is expected to be delivered to Congress on August 31. While President Tabare Vazquez has vowed to deliver a fiscally responsible budget aimed at trimming the public deficit while maintaining economic growth, the PIT-CNT and its allies say there are worrying signs ordinary workers could lose out. The budget will define public sector wages until 2020, and unions say they are concerned wage increases won't keep up with rising living costs.

PINT-CNT education unit head Jose Olivera told EFE negotiations between the union and government have made little progress, and there isn't much time left for a better deal to be struck.