Thousands of Guatemalans marched Thursday in the country's main cities to protest the high cost of living, low salaries and violence, on the International Workers' Day.
As a tradition, the parade in this capital started at the Labor Monument and went along 2 miles, to conclude at the Constitution's Plaza, I front of the Government Palace.
Guatemalan Workers' Union leader Daniel Velasquez said the number of participants in the capital exceeded 35,000."The main mottoes in this city and the departmental administrative centers will be about the high cost of living and city unsafety," said Velasquez.
In recent months, the prices of basic products, as corn, bread, beans, and chicken, have increased. However, salaries are still frozen, the CNOC (National Farmer Organization Coordinator's Office) denounced.
This organization, which will head the demonstrations on May Day, also condemned the violent atmosphere in the country, where between 13 and 15 people die per day and there are constant assassinations due to gender motives.
In a message on the occasion of the celebration, the CNOC sent greetings to all workers in the countryside and cities that earn their living by their sweat of their brow to support their families.
"In a special way, we are greeting women, who work from morning till night, preparing food, cleaning houses, taking care of children, without earning a salary," said the organization's communique.
It also recalled thousands of children workers, who are denied of the right to childhood and education, and day laborers in the countryside, who are not even paid the minimum salary and their rights are not recognized.
"May Day is considered as the day of the working people's dignity, and we hope that the government listens to our demands," said Victoriano Zacarias, of the Guatemalan General Central Labor Union.
No comments:
Post a Comment