Rift Between Evo and Largest Labor Union Widens

Relations between the Movement to Socialism government and the country’s largest labor union have hit an all-time low today. The union (COB) bussed its members to La Paz yesterday and surrounded the Bolivian federal government buildings in a giant march, battling police and launching thunderous explosives (petardos). The COB was infuriated when the Bolivian government announced a 20% minimum wage increase for private workers and 10% increase for public workers; the COB was not consulted on these numbers and they demand at least a 30% increase. Read Article