Banana Producers to Join Transport Strike Rocking Ecuador
July 12, 1999 - 0:0
QUITO A nationwide strike that has disrupted life across Ecuador for six days showed no signs of abating Saturday, as banana producers joined on and hospital workers pledged their continued support to what began as a transport strike. Taxi drivers began the strike to protest a 13.1 percent hike in gasoline prices. But during the week it spread to include bus and truck drivers, health care and farm workers, Indians and others who disagree with President Jamil Mahuad's handling of the run-down economy.
Some 14,000 public health care workers pledged to continue their strike, which has gone on for almost two weeks, until they are paid back wages. "They paid us for May, but we're still owed for June," said Doctor Jorge Mendoza. Mahuad acknowledged Saturday in a radio broadcast that most government workers had not been paid for June, but asked workers to be patient until Ecuador reaches an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $400-millionr aid package.
"The delay is not unusually long, considering the crisis that we have," the president said. "It's not that I am lazy. I understand the people's pain and anguish, but the problems that I faced when I assumed the presidency are so immensely great, that it's not possible to solve them with the speed that they deserve," he said. Meanwhile, Pedro Alava -- the taxi union leader who has been in hiding since Mahuad declared a state of emergency and arrested a number of taxi drivers -- told journalists Saturday he had held talks with a top government official on ways to end the strike.
"We are demanding the government revoke the price increase and freeze the price of the gallon of gasoline for at least two years at June's rate," Alava said. He also demanded the government release the 283 drivers arrested around the South American nation during the strike. Alfredo Serrano, head of the Banana Association in southwestern El Oro province told AFP that by today roads between Machala -- known as the world's banana capital -- and the port town of Guayaquil would be closed.
Serrano said that apart from showing solidarity with some 110,000 bus, taxi and truck drivers on strike, the banana producers' action was also to protest being underpaid by exporting companies. Ecuador -- the world's largest banana exporter -- it exported 3.84 million tons in 1998, earning more than one billion dollars. (AFP)
Some 14,000 public health care workers pledged to continue their strike, which has gone on for almost two weeks, until they are paid back wages. "They paid us for May, but we're still owed for June," said Doctor Jorge Mendoza. Mahuad acknowledged Saturday in a radio broadcast that most government workers had not been paid for June, but asked workers to be patient until Ecuador reaches an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $400-millionr aid package.
"The delay is not unusually long, considering the crisis that we have," the president said. "It's not that I am lazy. I understand the people's pain and anguish, but the problems that I faced when I assumed the presidency are so immensely great, that it's not possible to solve them with the speed that they deserve," he said. Meanwhile, Pedro Alava -- the taxi union leader who has been in hiding since Mahuad declared a state of emergency and arrested a number of taxi drivers -- told journalists Saturday he had held talks with a top government official on ways to end the strike.
"We are demanding the government revoke the price increase and freeze the price of the gallon of gasoline for at least two years at June's rate," Alava said. He also demanded the government release the 283 drivers arrested around the South American nation during the strike. Alfredo Serrano, head of the Banana Association in southwestern El Oro province told AFP that by today roads between Machala -- known as the world's banana capital -- and the port town of Guayaquil would be closed.
Serrano said that apart from showing solidarity with some 110,000 bus, taxi and truck drivers on strike, the banana producers' action was also to protest being underpaid by exporting companies. Ecuador -- the world's largest banana exporter -- it exported 3.84 million tons in 1998, earning more than one billion dollars. (AFP)