Thousands of public servants on strike in Chile

Nov 3, 2009, 18:17 GMT

   Santiago - Thousands of teachers and other public servants went on strike in Chile Tuesday to demand pay increases, just one- and-a-half months before a presidential election.

Half the country's children were left without lessons, while tax, migration and ID offices among others remained closed.

The trade unions demanded that temporary public servants be granted firm contracts. Thousands of people work for the state without being formally hired, barring them from access to holidays and other benefits offered to formal public sector workers.

They also demanded an 8-per-cent pay raise. The government of President Michelle Bachelet, who cannot stand for re-election under Chilean law, offered them a 2.5-per-cent increase.

State school teachers continued Tuesday a strike that they have kept up nationwide for 12 days. Since this is the third teachers' strike since January, students might have to repeat the year.

Teachers also demanded back pay estimated at about 1.3 million dollars. They dubbed the money a 'moral' debt because they had not been included in public-sector pay raises during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).

'It's an issue of dignity,' said teachers' representative Jaime Gajardo. 'This could mean a disaster, not finishing the school year.'