Universidad de Chile Hospital workers go on strike

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SANTIAGO.- According to Radio Cooperativa, some 30 workers from the Universidad de Chile Clinical Hospital began an indefinite strike today to protest ignored salary demands, additionally claiming that the establishment employs a variety of union busting practices.

The demonstration began at 8:00AM this morning, when non-academic employees such as administrators and paramedics began by stating that hospital authorities have not responded to their demands and have even threatened to start firing people.

"This has become a part of the culture within this hospital, in fact, this situation has even prompted us to file a case with the Court of Appeals concerning anti-labor union practices", declared the president of the Association of Hospital Workers, Verónica Rojas.

The workers positioned themselves outside of the establishment as part of a peaceful protest, indicating that there would be no negative effect on medical attention, since they had previously established shifts so as not to interrupt public service.