- Title: Scuffles break out during Peru labour strikes
- Date: 20th July 2017
- Summary: LIMA, PERU (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) SMOKE FROM TEAR GAS IN THE AIR WITH PROTESTERS ON ONE SIDE OF ROAD AND RIOT POLICE ON THE OTHER / RIOT POLICE ADVANCING TOWARDS PROTESTERS AND DEMONSTRATORS RETREATING / TEAR GAS FROM CANISTERS NEAR PROTESTERS PROTESTER THROWING BACK TEAR GAS CANISTER AT POLICE OFFICER KICKING TEAR GAS CANISTER IN DIRECTION OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OFFICIAL AT THE MINING DEFENCE FEDERATION, MILTON LOPEZ, SAYING: "Today, there are more than 200,000 miners affected by these cuts in labour law. There are 5,000 miners out on the street in Lima but nationally all miners are on strike, there is a complete stop." MINERS IN HELMETS AND UNIFORMS MARCHING GENERAL VIEW OF MINERS MARCHING MINER WITH LOUDSPEAKER CHANTING "WITHOUT A SOLUTION THERE WILL BE NO WORK" PROTESTER CHANTING "NO MORE FEAR" MINERS CHANTING AROUND PROTEST BANNER
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2017 21:29
- Keywords: strikes unions silver striking teachers miners scuffles Peru copper clashes
- Location: LIMA AND PUNO, PERU
- City: LIMA AND PUNO, PERU
- Country: Peru
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QIXE83
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Riot police in Lima on Thursday (July 20) used tear gas on striking miners angry at proposed labour reforms in the Andean nation that trade unions say will dismantle workers rights and loosen safety rules.
Earlier this week, miners from around the country walked off the job as part of a nationwide strike. Local reports put the number at 5,000 miners marching through downtown Lima. As tensions spilled over, advancing riot police threw tear gas canisters at protesters blocking main streets.
According to reports, more than 50 mining unions in Peru, including the top copper mines, are striking against President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's labour reforms. Conflicting reports have emerged on how mines have been affected by the protest in Peru, but the strike has not appeared to pressure copper prices.
Protests also took place in other parts of the country, including the rural area of Puno where university students demonstrated against changes to public education in the country. Although the details of any possible changes are yet to be announced, demonstrators denounced any move to privatise the education sector.
The government has gone on the defensive, denying that labour reforms will weaken workers' rights or that education reform will take away universal education. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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