Chilean strike called off

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 10

Chilean strike called off

NZPA Santiago Truck owners' and labour federations called off their work stoppage yesterday, saying that they hoped the military Government would listen to their demands for economic changes and political relaxation. The four-day strike, which affected little more than truck transport, ended after Catholic bishops issued a statement urging President Augusto Pinochet’s regime to open a dialogue with its critics. Adolfo Quinteros, president of the National Confederation of Truck Owners, told a news conference that he had made indirect contact with the Interior Minister, Mr Enrique Montero, and two Army Generals. He said that he expected direct talks with the Government to start this week. Truck owners, particularly hard hit by an economic recession, have rejected a Government plan to refinance 30 per cent of all debts under SUS3OO,OOO, and called for a moratorium on all unpayable obligations. Mr Quinteros said that farmers and small businessmen with the same problems had asked him to call off the strike and form a "great middle class movement.” Taxi and bus owners and a five-confederation national labour grouping representing about 200,000 workers had joined the 70,000-member truckers' group in calling an indefinite general work stoppage.