Low Participation in Venezuelan Opposition’s Education Strike

[Judi Lynn]

Low Participation in Venezuelan Opposition’s Education Strike

March 27th 2009, by Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Mérida, March 25, 2009 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Very few teachers went on strike today, in response to some teachers’ federations call for one, over demands for pay increases and more job security. The Venezuelan government called the strike illegal, as it is currently in negotiations with teachers’ unions.

The Venezuelan Teachers College federation and the United Federation of Teaching (Fetramagisterio) called the “24 hour” strike, along with five other unions, demanding a wage increase of 120%.

The federations called full strikes in nine states, while in others,
Nelson Gonzalez, president of Fetramagisterio, said they would organize meetings with parents and the communal councils, “because it’s a union action of warning, not to deepen the conflict.”

According to newspaper El Tiempo, the president of the College of Education Graduates, Carmen Aguirreche, said teachers in Caracas, and Vargas and Miranda states would work, while the leadership of the federation would occupy the Ministry of Education. Another union said it would strike just between 7am and 12am.

More:
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4329