Colombian workers strike to fight austerity, increase wages, 1997

In January 1997, the Colombian government under President Ernesto Samper declared a state of economic crisis. They planned to cut spending, increase taxes, and reduce wage increases in order to reduce the budget deficit, which had reached $4.4 billion in 1996. They developed additional plans to privatize industry, including selling state-owned mining and electrical companies. President Samper had previously supported social welfare programs and labor unions but said that the austerity measures were necessary because there was simply no money available. 

In February 1997, union leaders announced that they were planning a nationwide strike. The government responded by stationing army troops and security forces at airports, roadside checkpoints, and entrances to the capital of Bogotá. 

On 11 February 1997, at least 800,000 workers and public employees from multiple industries walked out on their job to begin a nationwide work stoppage. Teachers shut down schools and universities. Public transit workers walked out, leaving traffic gridlocked. Hernando Hernandez, head of the oil workers’ union said that oil workers were on strike and that production was cut by more than one-half at Ecopetrol, the state oil company. 

Health workers joined, paralyzing hospitals. Telecommunications operators, coroners, judiciary workers, prison guards, state bank, and utility workers walked out as well. Airlines were forced to ground flights from Bogatá before Valentine’s Day, which seriously hurt the nation’s flower industry. 

About 30,000 workers marched on Bogatá’s historic Plaza Bolivar. Security forces made about forty arrests, on “terrorist charges.” Workers marched again on the capital on 13 February.  

The United Labor Federation (CUT) led the work stoppage. The Workers Confederation of Colombia (CTC), the General Confederation of Democratic Workers (CGTD), and the National Federation of State Workers (Fenaltrase) supported the strike and agreed to take major labor action if the negotiations had failed. They demanded a 21.5% wage increase to match the inflation rate, an end to the austerity measures, and a stop to the privatization of state companies. They rejected the 13.5% wage increase that President Samper offered. 

Government officials stated that union leaders and workers were operating with drug dealers and leftist guerrilla fighters. Though the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) were waging an armed struggle with the government at the time, there is no evidence that the union leaders worked with the revolutionaries. However, the revolutionary leaders announced their support for the workers’ strike and independently called for an armed struggle. The CUT president Luis Eduardo Garzón denied the government’s accusations that the strike was infiltrated with drug traffickers and guerrilla fighters and claimed the government was trying to stigmatize the unions.  

On 17 February, union leaders threatened to shut down more key oil companies and call on private industries to join in solidarity. They also planned to bring in workers from around the country for a massive march in Bogotá. Government officials and union leaders continued their negotiations for about thirty hours. 

On 18 February, the government agreed to many of the union demands. They promised a 20% increase in salary for public workers. They also set up bi-lateral commissions to promote trade union rights and to study social security reforms. They also agreed to create a commission to analyze the consequences of privatizing the state-owned telephone, gas, oil, and electricity companies, thus delaying plans to open these industries up to private competition. These agreements mark a significant win for the unions.