Colombian labor unions and social movements initiated a 48-hour national strike on Wednesday, May 28th. The strike aims to support a popular referendum on labor reform, a key initiative of President Gustavo Petro’s government.
The strike was prompted by the Senate’s rejection of the labor reform referendum on May 14th. The vote saw 49 senators vote against the measure, while 47 supported it.
President Petro has urged business owners not to retaliate against workers participating in the strike. He also called for peaceful demonstrations, urging protesters not to damage public property or confront law enforcement.
The CUT President stated that the mobilization is a rejection of the right-wing opposition’s stance against workers’ rights.
President Petro has proposed a revised referendum including additional questions about the healthcare system, but the Senate has been focused on fast-tracking a reform that is intended to eliminate labor rights. The Interior Minister announced that if the Senate does not act on the initial proposal by June 1, the President will call for a national vote.
The President stated the law clearly states if the Senate does not rule on the referendum, he may decree it. The Senate President warned that this would violate the separation of powers as the Senate had already rejected the proposal. The situation has created conflict between the different political parties in Colombia.
