Workers´strike affects 1,300 students in Las Condes

SANTIAGO.-  Close to 1,300 students at the San Juan Evangelista private school in the Municipality of Las Condes were without classes today due to a strike initiated by the labor union at the educational facility.

The strike, which involves some 125 employees –including teachers, administrators and custodians-, is aimed at achieving a salary raise based on the CPI for March of 2009.  The request has so far been rejected by the institution.

According to the secretary of the labor union, Ariel Figueroa, “the school pays far below the CPI, which implies a significant cut in each employee’s income.  We are not really asking for a raise”.
 
The leader claims that the strike is indefinite, but stated, “we remain open to conversation” with the employers.

According to Figueroa, the workers are being supported by the student center of the school, which caters to pupils from kindergarten through their final year of high school.  Reportedly, some of the students will even be accompanying the workers throughout the day.