Chile offers striking workers a 9.5 percent raise

The government of Chile has offered nearly half a million striking municipal workers a 9.5 percent wage increase and the Congress is expected to vote on it Thursday, officials said.

The 450,000 workers, who have been on strike since Monday, are asking for a 14.5 percent pay increase. The government had initially offered a 6.5 percent increase.

A 9.5 percent increase would be the highest since the 9.9 percent accorded in 1997, El Mercurio newspaper reported.

Striking workers have taken to the streets this week, marching in most of the nation's major cities.

The nation was paralyzed for two days last week when the workers went on strike. The public employees have not set an end date for the strike.

Because of the strike, garbage is piling up on streets, tax and fee collection has stopped and public health and education are practically paralyzed. Even weddings and autopsies are not being performed.

source
---

There is a lot to say about the current strike. This article does not state that the reason for the demand for a raise in salary is because of the cost of living has gone up 10% from last year, nor that their first offer was a measly 4.5%. People are going to be very disappointed if the raise is not at least double-digits and it's not like the government does not have the fund. Also, the government is stubborn to make a quick, drastic decision because of the fear that if they grant the 14.5% request, soon the private sector will be asking for a similar changes, and many members of the government obviously have ties to these companies that will be affected. Also, the discussion is difficult because a simple raise to every public worker doesn't make sense...should executives of these public companies receive the same salary increase as a lower-class, less specialized worker? The same thinking applies to those who aren't very good workers, why should they be rewarded for their bad performance? I had a class canceled for a day because of this strike, and there is so much horrible stress placed on the country of Chile economically and socially. The host mother of my buddy Finn had a heart attack (thankfully she is o.k.) because she is one of the few working in her sector of the government and is a workaholic, so while others are striking she is working twice as hard and the extra stress was the cause.

Update: Thankfully the Congress approved a 10% raise in municipal salaries late Thursday afternoon and the strikes will stop. The readjustment also includes two bonds: one of $200,000 mil and one of $100,000 according to the salary tranche.

Two weeks...

These last few weeks are going to be a grind, but there are so many things I am looking forward to doing both here in Chile as well as obviously afterward. I have been unfaithful to my blog as of late, and will do my best to stay dedicated for these finals days because their going to be jam-packed. I have my final exams coming the final week of November as well as the first week of December. I also have only three more days of work at Basic Bar (22nd, 23rd, 24th of Nov).

I saw James Bond a week back with my host parents. Chile received an early screening of the film (before the United States, but obviously after the initial release in England), since about 40 minutes of the film is in the Northern deserts of Chile. Funny however, the scenes are supposed to be from Bolivia according the the story of the film and apparently the government of Bolivia and it's citizens were not to pleased about it due to the delicate history between Chile and Bolivia. The area in which the crew filmed used to be Bolivia, as well as their only access to the ocean, but after the War of the Pacific, Chile took this land from them as well as some territory from Peru. Also, according to the film's plot, a dictator is in control in Bolivia making shady environmental deals with the villain, which obviously didn't go over well either.



Last week I also went with my host parents to the 28nd annual international book fair, Feria Internacional del Libro de Santiago. My goal was to find two cheap books, one on Francisco de Miranda after hearing a bit about him in my social history class and a recommendation to research deeper on his life from my host dad, as well as a copy of the Argentine epic poem, Martín Fierro, and I succeeded in doing both. Coincidentally while I was looking for one of the books I came across a book, Las Catilinarias, that was written by one of the Ecuadorian ancestors, Juan Montalvo, a famous political writer. It was a joy to show that to my parents and the man selling the book. The price was a bit high and the book quiet large, so instead I took note of the title and one day will try and pick-up a copy.

I received word from the grandmother that I need to obtain a visa for Brazil, so this was a multi-day process to organize all the materials necessary for applying and eventually receiving one. The cost was $200 dollars, which apparently is a response by the government of Brazil for all the strict requirements and equally steep price that a Brazilian has to pay if one wants a tourist visa for the United States. I should be able to pick it up on the 24th.

I successfully bought two plane tickets for my travels in the coming weeks. The first is one to Mendoza do visit a family friend of mine for the weekend. I had been trying to get in contact with him since the moment I arrived, but there was a series of delays and before I knew it, it was two weeks until I was done with my program so I decided I needed to take advantage of being so close to his home and visit him.

I also bought my ticket to Punta Arenas with my friend Finn from Santa Cruz to spend 13 days in Patagonia, Chile. We will be roughing it up down there while visiting the national park Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego. The experience is going to be amazing and I can't wait. It will probably be the closest I get to Antarctica and if I find a way to technically set foot there, I will have been to all seven continents! I am so lucky to have the opportunities to travel and seeing the world gives me a great perspective and keeps me well grounded. I leave on the 6th of December and come back on the 19th, a day before I leave for Buenos Aires to meet up with my family.

So those are my recent and upcoming events that I have planned for the final weeks. Today I setup a meeting with an American economics professor from the Universidad de Chile, who studied at Columbia University and gave a lecture during my Chilean Culture and Politics class. I hope to use this time to ask him all my questions that I have regarding the current state of affairs and the future.

Yesterday the Chilean National futbol team played against Spain, currently #1 in the world, in Spain and lost 3-0. Though the entire team was not participating in the match, it was still rough, especially since the women's under-20 world cup started last night as well with Chile as the host country of the tournament they fell as well to England 2-0. Argentina played its first game with new head coach Diego Maradona and defeated Scotland in an ugly match 1-0. At least Lionel Messi wasn't playing, but they still look like a struggling squad.

That is all. Check out the story above on the current National Public Workers Strike going on Chile. I will try and write a post before I take off for Mendoza next Thursday.

Home stretch

Well it's now November and I can't believe it. Time flew by so fast, and now I am just trying to rush in the last bits and pieces to my trip and my experience down here. Hopefully I will have enough time. I am been so overloaded with school and work lately. I am know just trying to make sure my calender is all lined up before I jettison.

Tuesday the 28th of October was an interesting evening for me because I went to the Clasico Universitario futbol match between Universidad de Chile and Universidad de Catholica. The national stadium was totally packed and the match excellent. For some strange reason they decided to switch the usual entrances for fans and I headed to the Catholica entrance with jersey, hat and face-paint on, and was randomly martial-arts, high-kicked to the face by an opposing fan in front of a cop, who then escorted me to the appropriate entrance. Stupid. Luckily I got the last laugh since La Chile won 2-1 and essentially clinched the regular season #1 position.

That Wednesday was a sad day because my neighbor and her two kids moved down the Pucon. It was really sad to see them go, but I was able to spend a good deal of time with them before they left. So sad that such a random tragedy can instantly change the life of the entire family so drastically. Luckily I set the older son up with a skype account with a webcam so I can keep in touch with them as long as there is an internet connection (which they probably won;t have in house, but there are tons of cyber cafes)

It is interesting to be able to see my three classes beginning to converge. Granted they are two history classes and an economy class as related to Chile, but the same topics are starting to come up, and it allows me to draws parallels between subjects as well as discover more marco themes.

Friday was Halloween, which is not too heavily celebrated in Chile but this year the government declared the 31st a religious holiday (no school, optional work) and in turn the younger crowd is starting to practice the goofy American tradition of trick-or-treating and partying. Basic Bar threw a party with a DJ, which was pretty fun except for that fact that I was working rather than enjoying myself. It was entertaining though cause it gives you a different perspective when working behind the bar. Staying 'till 4:30 a.m., not as much fun. I worked on Sunday and Monday was well.

Tuesday was the big election night, with practically every eye on the planet focused on the outcome. I personal takeaways from the night: 1. I wasn't surprised by the outcome except for how close the popular vote was 2. Expectations are high, but Mr. Obama deliver. From the sounds of it, results are only going to take place in the long term, and it might take multiple terms. Not good. Hope he is the next reincarnation of Lincoln/Roosevelt for the sake of of the overly optimistic American public.

I had two tests this past week, one for Social History on Latin America on the industrialization period of Latin America, and one for Economics on Friday on Monetary policy and the current financial/global economic crisis. Both went well, but it took a lot of energy out of me with all the studying and stress that I had this past week.

Saturday I took ym host parents to see the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. I thought it would be a good idea considering that 40 minutes of the film is from northern Chile. Unfortunately credit was only given to the country and the end of the credits since in the plot, the area is considered Bolivia since they have to incorporate a fictional dictator and I am not sure that would work so well with Chile. I had work that evening and the following day (today).

I have a final essay to turn in for my Gringo 101 class on Tuesday and then I am essentially work free until the last week of November in which I have another Social History of Latin America test and an essay for Contemporary History of Chile. I am trying to visit a family friend of mine who lives in Mendoza the last weekend of November, then take some final exams that week, head down to Patagonia for two weeks, coming back on the 20th to spend one final day in Santiago before going to Buenos Aires. Flight prices are dropping everyday, so there is no big rush. My last day of work at Bar Basic on the 24th. It's going to be a tough final month, but I am always up for the challenge.