Colombia’s Confederation of Workers (CUT) announced that 30,000 public sector workers in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali will strike over lack of collective bargaining rights, outsourcing and worker instability on October 7 , Colombian media reported.
According to the union, workers from Colombia’s tax authority DIAN, the geology and mining institute, the national comptroller, the notaries and registries, as well as other public offices will take part.
CUT provided four reasons for their strike, which includes the inability of the Ministries of Environment and Social Protection and the National Television Commission to collectively bargain. The union also argues that the government has not cooperated with its commitment to put an end to labor outsourcing and failed to provide job stability for 120,000 workers on provisional contracts.
Vice President Angelino Garzon responded to the announcement by urging the leaders of the union to suspend the strike and engage in dialogue.
“In this way we initiate an intense process of Social Dialogue led by the National Government and committed also to the mayors and governors in an attempt to find solutions to the demands that have motivated these protests,” Garzon said.