Colombia’s Public Unions Strike as Embattled President Loses Backing

Tens of thousands of public employees marched on Bogota’s main square Tuesday in the first indication that unions have withdrawn support for President Ernesto Samper, who portrays himself as the defender of workers and the poor.

The first nationwide work stoppage in 20 years began as a demonstration over the size of wage increases and plans to sell government companies, but it has evolved into a protest of government economic austerity programs.

Colombia’s once-robust economy has declined because of political instability and lack of public safety, evident in the kidnapping and homicide rates that are among the highest in the world.

Bogota’s usually crowded streets were all but empty Tuesday morning on the first day of the strike, as an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 workers marched on the capital’s historic Plaza Bolivar. Police helicopters hovered, and riot police were posted around and near the square.

After evaluating the march results, union leaders offered to resume talks with the government and threatened to take over five cities on Thursday if the administration does not agree to negotiate.

Samper was meeting with key Cabinet ministers to reach his own conclusions on the effects of the strike.

Tuesday’s demonstration in Bogota and throughout the country were mainly peaceful. Soldiers were posted at overpasses and outside government buildings starting Monday night after military officials warned of evidence that terrorists planned to infiltrate the strike.

Army intelligence agents found explosives Monday in Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Bucaramanga. At least 42 people were arrested in connection with these caches, said Gen. Manuel Bonett, head of the armed forces.

But some observers scoffed at the warnings of terrorism and the decision to suspend public school classes as a way to hold down protest.

“The government is really scared, and they are trying to scare people,” said Rudolf Hommes, dean of Los Andes University and a former finance minister. “The government has based its support on [the workers], and this is a very severe indication they don’t have that sort of support.”

About one-third of about 1 million government workers nationwide are unionized. They remained among Samper’s strongest supporters last year when civic groups, students and business leaders demanded that he resign after his campaign treasurer and manager both said he knew that millions of dollars in drug money had financed his campaign.

Samper has claimed that those accusations were a plot to remove him from power because he has tried to help the poor.

“The masses that were a significant support for the teetering government are now strong opponents,” noted Enrique Santos Calderon, columnist in the influential El Tiempo newspaper. “They have noticed that the government is not going to keep its promises and have started to feel the effects of this administration in their pocketbooks.”

Because the economy has slowed, fewer taxes are being collected, causing the federal budget deficit to grow to about 4% of gross domestic product.

In response, the government declared an economic emergency last month, raising taxes and cutting expenses. The government decided to hold its workers to a 13.5% wage increase. Workers have demanded a 21.5% raise to make up for the 22% inflation rate last year.