Letter of solidarity with the 11 July Chilean union protests

H.E. Mr Tomas E Muller Sproat
Embassy of Chile
37-41 Old Queen Street
London
SW1H 9JA

Dear Ambassador

International Solidarity with the CUT Chile's 11 July Action

I am writing on behalf of the British Trades Union Congress, the 6 million members of our affiliated unions and British workers to express our support for the action called by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Chile (CUT) on 11 July. The International Trades Union Confederation and its regional organisation the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas have written directly to President Pinera to express their solidarity and I would ask that you also convey the views of the British trade union movement to your government.

The CUT has called this general strike for 11 July 2013 in support of the workers' legitimate demands for:

Wide ranging tax reform

A new labour code

An inclusive pensions system

The Chilean economy has seen impressive growth over the last 30 years, but this has not translated into better living and working conditions for the majority of Chilean people, exposing the neoliberal fallacy "we must grow to equalize". Other countries of Latin America have clearly demonstrated that the strategy of "equalizing to grow" has proved effective in achieving the inclusion of millions of people and combating poverty.

We support the CUT view that the government of a country that grows at a rapid rate should not simply limit itself to opening up to foreign investment, which, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), creates very few jobs. Measures need to be taken to strengthen structures such as public development banking, which can help to promote national production and create jobs that respect workers' human rights.

As we reach the 40^th anniversary of the coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of President Allende urgent action is still needed to end the dark legacy of the Chilean dictatorship, built on the foundations of exclusion, restricting workers' rights and freedoms, privileging the rich, serving corporate interests, and a social security system aimed solely at profiting big business.

Finally we would also ask you to convey our disappointment that despite economic growth in Chile your government is offering of a minimum wage increase that is well below what the Chilean people need to satisfy their basic needs. The minimum wage, as also indicated by the ECLAC, is a mechanism fostering social inclusion and should be one of the main instruments that helps workers escape from poverty.

It is for the above reasons that the TUC supports the trade union movement of the Americas, in standing in solidarity with the CUT-Chile's call for a general strike, in defence of workers' interests. We will continue to monitor developments closely.

Yours sincerely

Frances O'Grady

General Secretary