Colombia’s main labor unions and a collection of civil society organizations called a national strike “against the fascist government of Abelardo de la Espriella and his tax reform” bill.
In a press statement, the organizations accused De la Espriella of, among other things, dismantling the “social, environmental, trade union, and labor rights achieved during the government of Gustavo Petro,” and surrendering sovereignty and kneeling before the imperialist government of the United States.”
The government of Abelardo, like that of Duque and Carrasquilla, intends to reach into the pockets of the people and privilege the ultra-rich with its “economic rescue” bill, which imposes a 19% VAT on food and other basic goods in the family basket, higher taxes on earned income, raises health contributions up to 8%, and conversely reduces the corporate capital income tax from 35% to 31%, eliminates the wealth tax in 2031, and reduces the capital gains tax to 20% for investments in 2027 and 2028.
Civil society organizations
The organizations additionally accused the government of seeking special powers to facilitate the privatization of state-controlled companies like oil firm Ecopetrol.
The organizations said they united with the main opposition party, the Historic Pact, “with the purpose of opposing this fascist government and decisively participating in the National Strike.”
The National Strike on November 19 constitutes a new stage in the organization and expression of growing popular discontent, which was also manifested in the successful national mobilization day of October 14. It is about strengthening a collective action process capable of confronting the Government’s regressive measures, demanding respect for hard-won rights, and opposing the deepening of its neoliberal and authoritarian project.
Civil society organizations
The last time a national strike was organized was in 2021 when the labor unions and their allies from civil society shut down parts of the country for months.
At the time, a tax reform propose by former President Ivan Duque triggered the initiative.
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