Workers, taxi drivers and truckers across Colombia will join Thursday’s student protests in a show of solidarity, reported RCN Radio Tuesday.
The Confederation of Workers, the Confederation of Labor, the Colombian Association of Truckers and the National Union of Taxi Drivers pledged Tuesday to back students opposing government proposals for higher education reform.
Members will take to the streets on Thursday and march with students in cities across the country. Bogota was effectively shut down when students marched on November 3 — and taxi drivers are hoping to help them do the same this week. The President of the National Union of Taxi Drivers, Herminso Bermudez, said, “If we don’t take to the streets, the city will keep going. What we are trying to do is bring the city to a halt.”
The leader of the Confederation of Labor, Percy Oyola, also said members would be encouraged to march, especially in Bogota – but ruled out any paralysis of public services.
The government claims the proposed reform, known as “Law 30,” will inject desperately needed funds into the education system, improve its quality and make it more accessible. However, critics believe Law 30 will lower quality, increase costs and undermine the autonomy of universities.