BOLIVIA: Striking teachers march against President Evo Morales in La Paz

Record ID: 338831

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Striking teachers march against President Evo Morales in La Paz
  • Date: 23rd May 2010
  • Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (MAY 21, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STRIKING TEACHERS TRYING TO TAKE OVER DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (SEDUCA) TEACHERS LEAVING SEDUCA AFTER RALLY EXTERIOR OF SEDUCA VARIOUS OF TEACHERS DEMONSTRATING IN HERNANDO SILES STADIUM PLAZA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JOSE LUIS ALVAREZ, TEACHER LEADER, SAYING: "For a moment, we took over SEDUCA to warn authori
  • Embargoed: 7th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA7L0GK627NQRYBK777SZANZ559
  • Story Text: Thousands of striking Bolivian teachers march against President Evo Morales for a higher wage increase.
    Bolivia's public school teachers extended their strike for a tenth day on Friday (May 21) as thousands of teachers from around the country marched over 200 kilometers to downtown La Paz.
    The teachers are demanding a 12 percent wage increase. The government has offered a 5 percent increase which teachers say is not enough to keep up with inflation and feed their families.
    In the rally, they focused their anger on the administration of President Evo Morales, who was elected into power with widespread support of the poor.
    "This government isn't ours," said strike leader and teacher Vilma Plata. "Yell it from the four winds: Evo Morales was elected to disgrace the poor."
    The teachers tried to take over the Department of Education and argued with police who stopped them.
    The demonstrating teachers have come from across the Andean country and have been marching in La Paz since arriving there on Monday.
    The teachers unions were the first of many workers groups to go on strike on May 7, a general workers strike was called on May 10.
    The impoverished country's biggest umbrella union signed a deal with the government shortly after calling the strike, but teacher's unions have vowed to continue.
    The enduring demonstrations have been a test of the popular government of President Morales.
    Animosity has risen as some residents want to see an end to the protests and want the teachers to go back to the classroom.
    The protests have become an endurance test as teachers say they will not give in until a new deal is worked out with the government.
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