Press Release Statement from Chilean TUs and NGOs

UCL UCU supports sister trade unions in Chile taking action against human rights abuses

  UCL UCU Branch Cttee hereby condemns the human rights abuses perpetrated in recent days by the Chilean Armed Forces deployed on the streets of Chilean cities with live rounds, under orders from the neoliberal/austerity government of Sebastián Piñera. Noting that there have been reports of over 2400 arrests (men, women, children, pensioners), 17 deaths, 800plus injuries, and even incidences of torture, we support the call by sister trade unions and NGOs for a GENERAL STRIKE starting Weds 23 Oct 2019 and endorse their public statement (see below)...

#SOLIDARITY
Press release - General Strike 23 October 2019
Useful hashtags: #huelgageneral #piñerarenuncia #toquedequeda #ChileDespertó
Translation to English
GENERAL STRIKE FROM WEDNESDAY 23. URGENT PRESS RELEASE. DISSEMINATE IN ALL MEDIA AND PRESS (as is being currently disseminated on social media)
URGENT: PUBLIC PRESS RELEASE OF SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS THAT EXPLAINS CONDITIONS AND WILLINGNESS FOR DIALOGUE. Facing the unfounded and intentional war message by Sebastián Piñera, which invisibilises the mass demands of the people, it is imperative that this comunique is disseminated at mass scale in the shortest possible time.
PUBLIC PRESS RELEASE
Chile is facing the greatest political and social crisis since the end of the military dictatorship. The social outburst triggered by the raise of public transport fares has made evident the rage and discontent felt by people over the policies that have been taken and promoted in the last few decades, the constant raising prices of basic services, the stagnant wages and the commercialisation of social rights, among other issues.
Faced with this, the Government is carrying out a true “self-coup”, using the most notorious of any possible antidemocratic practices, that is to use the military to impose "social peace" through the use of force, and in this context impose its anti-popular policies on pensions, taxes, working hours, etc. The government, with its actions, has paralysed the country with the climate of violence installed due to the presence of the military in the streets.
Sebastián Piñera is not understanding the underlying reasons for the widespread people’s protests throughout the territory, with his attitude it is clear that he is not in a position to continue leading the country.
Therefore, in the first place, in the frameworks of the law and according to each case, no worker should jeopardise their integrity, nor attend their job(s) if the conditions for doing so are not present.
We, the trade unions present here, in an emergency meeting, demand that the government restore the democratic institutionality, which in the first place means deposing the state of emergency and returning the military to their barracks.
Only with the deposition of the State of Emergency will there be conditions that truly allow for a social and political dialogue to be initiated, with organisations representing the workers and social movements, which shall respond to the demands that have generated this state of social outrage.
We, the organisations present here, express our decision to call a great General Strike that takes over the streets of this country. If there is no response from the government and a prompt end to the current state of crisis of democratic institutions, the strike will be effective as of Wednesday 23 October.
We make an adamant call to the opposition and progressive groups to, once and for all, collect the popular demands and legislate accordingly, and that they act for the good of the country with the criteria of unity regarding the demands and gravity of the moment. We immediately demand that they stop all legislative action while the state of emergency is maintained, carrying out a parliamentary strike.
We are certain that the first ones responsible for the violence are the arrogant and insensitive elites that for decades have abused with impunity and have commodified even the most basic rights; they are not an example of anything, they are the ones who have taken this country to the serious breaking-point that we are experiencing today.
But with the same clarity we strongly condemn the irrational violence generated by the government’s attitude, which has allowed for vandalic and delinquent actions by minority groups to take place, while the vast majority of the people of this country has protested in a peaceful and organised way throughout the territory. It is absurd to destroy the subway, which is not used by those in power but by the workers; the looting of businesses, some of them from small business owners; as well as the destruction of public goods; these are all despicable acts. That irrational violence is only useful for those in power to justify the repression and militarisation of the country. But we also pose the question about the suspicious absence of police surveillance and protection of the subway network, of businesses and buildings, just when these groups of unknown and dubious allegiances operated.
Finally, the trade unions gathered here today, we reiterate and make ours declaration and petition for Social Unity, which contains the demands of the people, from 19 October 19, under the motto: We are tired, we have joined.
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (Chilean TUC) 
Coordinadora No Más AFP (Coordination No More AFP)
Asociación Nacional Empleados Fiscales ANEF (National Association of Fiscal Employees ANEF)
CONFUSAM
FENPRUSS
Confederación Coordinadora de Sindicatos del Comercio y Servicios Financieros (Confederation Coordination of Trade and Financial Services Unions)
FEDASAP
Confederación Bancaria (Confederation of Banking)
CONFEDEPRUS
Sindicato Interempresa Líder SIL (Union of Líder SIL workers)
Colegio de Profesores (College of Teachers)
FENATS Nacional.
Supporting this statement:
CONES
CONFECH
Chile Mejor Sin TLC (Chile better without TLC)
Cumbre de los Pueblos (People’s Summit)
FECH
FENAPO
FEUARCIS
UPROSAT
____________________________________________________________
Original
HUELGA GENERAL A PARTIR DEL MIÉRCOLES 23. COMUNICADO URGENTE. DIFUNDIR POR TODOS LOS MEDIOS
URGENTE: COMUNICADO PÚBLICO DE ORGANIZACIONES SOCIALES QUE EXPLICITA CONDICIONES Y VOLUNTAD DE DIALOGO.
Frente al discurso bélico infundado, intencionado e invisibilizador de las demandas masivas de la ciudadanía por parte de Sebastán Piñera, es imperioso que sea difundido masivamente en el menor tiempo posible.
COMUNICADO PÚBLICO.
Chile enfrenta la mayor crisis política y social desde la salida de la dictadura militar. El estallido social detonado por las alzas de la locomoción colectiva ha puesto en evidencia la rabia contenida y el descontento por las políticas impulsadas en las últimas décadas, alzas permanentes de los servicios básicos, los estancados salarios y la mercantilización de los derechos sociales entre otras.
Frente a esto, el Gobierno está llevando a cabo un verdadero “auto Golpe”, recurriendo a la mayor de las practicas antidemocráticas que es usar a las FF.AA. para imponer “paz social” por la vía de la fuerza y en ese contexto imponer sus políticas antipopulares en pensiones, tributaria, jornada de trabajo, etc. El gobierno con su actuar, tiene paralizado al país con el clima de violencia instalado con la presencia de los militares en las calles.
Sebastián Piñera no está entendiendo las razones de fondo de la protesta ciudadana generalizada en todo el territorio, con su actitud es claro que no está en condiciones de seguir dirigiendo al país.
Por tanto, en primer lugar, en los marcos de la ley y en relación a cada caso, ningún trabajador debe poner en riesgo su integridad, ni asistir a sus puestos de trabajo si no están las condiciones para ello.
Las organizaciones sindicales presentes, en una reunión de Unidad Sindical de urgencia, demandamos al gobierno restituir la institucionalidad democrática, que en primer lugar significa deponer el estado de emergencia y devolver los militares a sus cuarteles.
Solo depuesto el Estado de Emergencia, habrá condiciones que permitan iniciar de manera real, un diálogo social y político, con organizaciones representativas de los trabajadores y movimientos sociales, que le de respuesta a las demandas que son las que han generado este estado de indignación social.
Las organizaciones presentes, manifestamos nuestra decisión de convocar a una gran Huelga General que vacíe las calles del país. De no mediar respuestas del gobierno y una salida pronta al actual estado de crisis de la institucionalidad democrática, se hará efectiva a partir del próximo miércoles 23 de octubre.
Hacemos un llamado categórico a la oposición y progresismo a que de una vez recojan y legislen considerando las demandas populares y actúen por el bien del país con criterios de unidad en torno a las exigencias y gravedad del momento. En lo inmediato, les exigimos paralizar toda acción legislativa mientras se mantenga el estado de excepción, asumiendo una huelga parlamentaria.
Estamos ciertos que los primeros responsables de la violencia es esta elite arrogante e insensible que durante décadas ha abusado de manera impune y ha mercantilizado hasta los derechos más elementales; ellos no son ejemplo de nada, son los que han llevado a este país al grave estallido que vivimos hoy.
Pero con la misma claridad condenamos de la manera más enérgica la violencia irracional generada por la actitud del gobierno, que ha permitido acciones de vandalismo y delincuencia de grupos minoritarios, mientras la gran mayoría del país se ha manifestado de manera pacífica y organizada por todo el territorio. Es absurdo destruir el metro que no es usado por los poderosos sino por trabajadores y trabajadoras, es repudiable el saqueo de negocios, algunos de ellos de pequeños comerciantes, así como la destrucción de bienes públicos. Esa violencia irracional solo es funcional a los poderosos para justificar la represión y militarización del país. Pero también dejamos planteada la pregunta acerca de la sospechosa ausencia de vigilancia y protección policial a la red de metro, negocios y edificios, justo en los momentos en que operaban estos grupos de desconocida y dudosa pertenencia.
Finalmente, las organizaciones sindicales reunidas el día de hoy, reiteramos y hacemos nuestra la declaración y petitorio de Unidad Social, que contiene las demandas de la ciudadanía toda, del día 19 de Octubre, bajo el lema: Nos cansamos, nos unimos.
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores – Coordinadora No Más AFP – Asociación Nacional Empleados Fiscales ANEF – CONFUSAM – FENPRUSS – Confederación Coordinadora de Sindicatos del Comercio y Servicios Financieros – FEDASAP – Confederación Bancaria- CONFEDEPRUS – Sindicato Interempresa Líder SIL – Colegio de Profesores – FENATS Nacional.
Adhieren: CONES – CONFECH – Chile Mejor Sin TLC - Cumbre de los Pueblos – FECH – FENAPO – FEUARCIS - UPROSAT
____________________________________________________________
Link to Statements by the Unión Portuaria de Chile, calling to general strike from Monday 21 October 2019

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