IMF go home: Venezuela.(a one-day general strike in Venezuela challenges the ruling party's International Monetary Fund-endorsed austerity programs)(Brief Article)

Economist (US), The, August, 1997

FIFTEEN months of IMF-endorsed austerity provoked weary Venezuelans to protest this week. A one-day general strike gave the administration of President Rafael Caldera its greatest challenge in three years. But, though the strike may have cost businessmen the $300m they predicted, it seemed unlikely to drive him off course.

The strike was called by the main trade-union confederation, and joined by other unions, including those of the powerful oil workers and of the 1.3m civil servants. Ostensibly it was directed against last month's 23% increase in petrol prices and for higher wages. Yet the real motivations were more complex. The confederation has been criticised by members over its conduct of government-brokered negotiations on alterations to labour benefits,...

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