Public sector employees launch a two-day strike

On 11 November 2008 thousands of public sector employees launched a two-day strike to press their demands for salary increases. Workers from various sectors, including prison personnel, teachers and health workers, staged a march through downtown Santiago, where they carried banners and used objects to make noise; workers are demanding the wage increases to combat rising inflation rates in the country. It is not known if the march caused significant ground transportation disruptions, but as a result of the disruption in garbage collection, health facilities and schools have shut down. The strike is expected to end on 12 November.