Called on by the Unified National Union for Construction and Additions (Sunca), the protesters mobilized from the esplanade of the University of the Republic near the Palace of Parliament.
It was a journey of about 10 kilometers in which they defended labor conquests that are now in jeopardy.
This was explained to Prensa Latina by Sunca’s Minister of Propaganda, Cristian Techera, who said workers from across the construction industry and its branches were represented in the protest, including building, raw materials, concrete, ceramics and contract workers.
It was a mobilization strike, with thousands arriving in buses and trucks from the interior, he stressed.
Techera believed her country was facing a “neoliberal government attack” that threatened working-class wages and benefits, some of which have been in place for more than 20 years.
He added that it intends to curtail rights and restrict union activities on the basis of the Urgent Consideration Bill (LUC), which was narrowly approved last March.
In this regard, the executive branch intends to amend the Collective Bargaining Act, a law that regulates the terms for discussing wages and working conditions, he said.
Sunca is also opposed to the social security reform project that raises the retirement age by five years, both in terms of age and pension contribution.
Techera stressed that the union defends fair, supportive and comprehensive social security.
She also called on the government of President Luis Lacalle Pou to honor the commitments it has made on public investment to create jobs.
In this regard, he predicted that if employment is not reactivated, thousands of workers will be left on the streets in the coming months.
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