They demand the restitution of fuel subsidies and reject price hikes.
On Sunday, Bolivian Workers’ Center (COB) confirmed it will maintain a nationwide strike as a pressure measure to demand full protection of economic and social rights.
RELATED:
Bolivians Demand Environmental Safeguards in Lithium Projects
Specifically, workers reject Decree 5503, which eliminated fuel subsidies, resulting in price increases of 86% for gasoline and 162% for diesel.
The COB called on grassroots committees to participate massively, in a disciplined and combative manner, against the elimination of fuel subsidies and other neoliberal measures promoted by President Rodrigo Paz.
Bolivia’s main labor organization sealed a unity agreement with miners, peasants, factory workers and rural teachers with the aim of intensifying protests starting in the first week of January 2026.
The National Committee of Miners’ Housewives of Bolivia (CONACMIN) said it is joining the open-ended strike promoted by the COB, which is also supported by the Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers (FSTMB).
Day 6 of Bolivia’s general strike against the new govt’s neoliberal austerity measures.
The largest union (miners) hold daily protests in the capital, while rural workers plan to march on cities. Though some smaller corrupt unions are demobilzing after signing deals with govt. pic.twitter.com/c8lAt6UnNu
— Ollie Vargas (@Ollie_Vargas_) December 28, 2025
The decision by Bolivian social organizations comes after the La Paz administration said it would not modify “a single article” of the decree approved on Dec. 17.
Jose Choque, the COB’s second secretary, said those statements sparked strong rejection among affiliated organizations, including the Unified Syndical Confederation of Rural Workers of Bolivia (CSUTCB), which decided to strengthen mobilizations nationwide starting in January under a pressure strategy inspired by the historical line of struggle of Felipe Quispe, known as “El Mallku.”
Choque also said workers will begin setting up hunger strike pickets in different regions of the country. Labor organizations will launch internal information campaigns to explain the contents of Decree 5503 to their members and define new protest actions.
He said it was also agreed to form a strike committee and a mobilization committee, which will begin operating after New Year’s celebrations in order not to affect people traveling during the year-end holidays. The union leader said at least 101 of the 121 articles of Decree 5503 contain flaws that render them unconstitutional.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Bolivia: Sectors affiliated with the Workers’ Union continued protesting against a decree that eliminates subsidies for hydrocarbons and threatens the natural resources. pic.twitter.com/s820l3z8Un
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 29, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: ANF – El Ciudadano – Erbol
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.