South and Central America
194 Union prepares sellout of Renault strike in Brazil
8 August 2020
Widespread protests in Bolivia oppose postponement of elections
By Tomas Castanheira, 5 August 2020
Since Monday, a movement of strikes and blockades of main roads by workers and peasants has been spreading in Bolivia.
Brazilian teachers oppose back-to-school drive
By our correspondents, 5 August 2020
Amid intense opposition from teachers and parents, private schools were reopened last month in the state of Amazonas and this week in Rio de Janeiro.
As COVID-19 ravages Brazil, governments promote homicidal reopening of schools
By Tomas Castanheira, 1 August 2020
The attempt by big business politicians to reopen schools in the country faces massive opposition from educators and working-class families.
What led Argentina’s Left Workers Front (FIT) to vote for banning criticism of Israel under the guise of combatting anti-Semitism?
By Andrea Lobo, 29 July 2020
The FIT legislators voted for a bill introduced by the right-wing Macristas to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism aimed at criminalizing opposition to Israel.
Brazilian autoworkers strike after Renault fires 747 workers
By Tomas Castanheira, 25 July 2020
Workers were outraged over the targeting for layoffs of those who were out because of work-related injuries and even coronavirus infections.
Brazil surpasses two million coronavirus cases as reopening drive continues
By Tomas Castanheira, 18 July 2020
“We cannot continue suffocating the economy,” President Jair Bolsonaro said, as Brazil suffered the highest single day death toll in the world.
New delivery workers demonstration in Brazil exposes unions and their allies
By Miguel Andrade, 18 July 2020
After a massive continent-wide strike on July 1, delivery workers in Brazil are being told to place their fate in the hands of the unions and Congress.
The blinding of Gustavo Gatica and the return to unrestrained police state violence in Chile
By Mauricio Saavedra, 15 July 2020
The Chilean security forces enjoy a level of immunity not seen since the 17-year military dictatorship, when thousands were arrested, tortured, killed and disappeared.
US-led “back to work” drive spreads death across Latin America
By Eric London, 15 July 2020
Though mass poverty and inequality made the region vulnerable to the coronavirus, the rising Latin American death toll is also the product of Wall Street’s hemispheric back to work policy.
Brazil’s fascistic President Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus
By Tomas Castanheira, 8 July 2020
Amidst the catastrophic pandemic, Bolsonaro reaffirms his criminal message: “Life goes on, Brazil has to produce, it has to put the economy to work.”
Peru lifts quarantine restrictions as coronavirus infections pass 300,000 mark
By Cesar Uco, 8 July 2020
“Phase three” aligns the government and all political parties with the interest of big business and against the working class.
Brazil’s coronavirus cases top 1.5 million amid record unemployment
By Tomas Castanheira, 6 July 2020
From March to May, some eight million workers lost their jobs, and more than half of the country’s working age population have become unemployed.
Pandemic spirals out of control in South Africa, India, Brazil
By Bryan Dyne, 4 July 2020
The official tallies in each country of daily confirmed coronavirus cases have become exponential, indicating that whatever containment measures were implemented to halt the spread of the virus have essentially collapsed.
Thousands of delivery workers strike across Brazil and other Latin American countries
By Brunna Machado and Letícia Silva, 4 July 2020
Thousands of delivery workers engaged in a strike on Wednesday to demand better working conditions in more than 10 Brazilian capitals, as well as in cities in Argentina and Mexico.
Spain participated in failed 2019 US coup in Venezuela
By Alejandro López, 4 July 2020
New information emerging about the coup exposes Spain’s ruling “left populist” party, Podemos, as a tool of imperialism’s bloody foreign policy in Latin America.
Chile: COVID-19 outbreak in mining regions
By Mauricio Saavedra, 1 July 2020
Three mineworkers have died in the giant state-owned mining corporation Codelco, and some 2,528 are infected, according to the official figures of the Ministry of Mining.
Pandemic surpasses 10 million COVID-19 cases and over 500,000 deaths globally
By Benjamin Mateus, 29 June 2020
COVID-19 cases in the United States have careened out of control, with health care systems in Texas, Florida and Arizona nearing collapse.
Health care collapses in Bolivia after coup regime reopens economy
By Tomas Castanheira, 29 June 2020
COVID-19 cases have tripled in Bolivia since the country began reopening economic activities less than a month ago.
World Bank pushes privatized distance learning in Brazil
By Eduardo Parati, 29 June 2020
The São Paulo secretary of education’s declared intention of “facilitating teachers’ work” is actually aimed at furthering a shift to distance learning.
Brazilian health care workers strike for PPE and risk bonus
By Brunna Machado, 27 June 2020
On Thursday, health care professionals in the Brazilian state of Piauí started an indefinite strike as their counterparts in Rio de Janeiro launched protests.
As COVID-19 cases triple in a month, Latin American elites press ahead with back-to-work campaign
By Andrea Lobo, 26 June 2020
The ruling classes in the most unequal region of the world have based their response to the pandemic and the economic crisis it spurred on protecting their wealth and privileges at all costs.
Brazilian government hides scale of COVID-19 pandemic to promote criminal reopening
By Tomas Castanheira, 25 June 2020
Different studies point to severe underreporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths, as outbreaks at working places spread across Brazil.
Brazilian police arrest key ally of Bolsonaro
By Miguel Andrade, 20 June 2020
Several investigations are threatening the fascist president, who has rallied military ministers to declare “the army doesn’t follow absurd orders.”
Chile’s health minister resigns as disastrous policies lead to explosion in coronavirus infections and deaths
By Mauricio Saavedra, 19 June 2020
A media investigation revealed that the government was providing the World Health Organization a coronavirus body count that was almost double that given to the general public.
Outbreaks of COVID-19 in Brazil’s meat processing plants and mines
By Tomas Castanheira, 17 June 2020
Clusters of coronavirus at large companies across the country threaten the lives of thousands of workers.
Brazil registers world’s second-highest COVID-19 toll as stock market soars
By Miguel Andrade, 13 June 2020
The Brazilian stock market is responding to the unity of the whole ruling class around the back-to-work campaign and the brutal repression of social opposition.
Brazilian delivery workers strike in defense of their lives
By Tomas Castanheira, 12 June 2020
Delivery workers have been carrying out strikes and protests in Brazil since April, connected to delivery workers’ strikes around the world in countries like Spain, Ecuador and Argentina.
Youth protests and worker strikes show mounting social opposition in Brazil
By Tomas Castanheira, 10 June 2020
Strikes and job actions are intersecting with protests of tens by thousands of youth who have joined the international wave of demonstrations against police violence.
Protest in Panama against premature reopening in face of spreading COVID-19
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 June 2020
Despite the highest level of COVID-19 cases in Latin America, the government of Panama is reopening the economy regardless of workers’ health concerns.
Bolsonaro government attempted to censor Brazil’s coronavirus case count and death toll
By Bryan Dyne, 8 June 2020
There are now more than 7 million officially confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, an increase of one million cases in nine days, and more than 400,000 dead.
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro calls demonstrators “terrorists,” threatens military repression
By Miguel Andrade, 6 June 2020
Gen. Hamilton Mourão viciously attacked protests against the murder of George Floyd and social inequality, calling for the arrest of demonstrators.
Protests spread in Chile as hospitals reach saturation point
By Mauricio Saavedra, 5 June 2020
The loss of life is the outcome of decades of pro-corporate policies that have led to a chronically underfunded health system, now on the verge of collapse and extreme poverty.
Brazilian youth join international wave of protests against police violence
By Tomas Castanheira, 3 June 2020
Responding to demonstrations across the US, thousands of people took to the streets of Brazil protesting against police violence, racism and the fascistic president Bolsonaro.
Brazilian Trotskyists issue call for working-class action against pandemic
What will be the cost of implementing this program? Who will pay for it?
Statement of the Brazilian Socialist Equality Group (In Solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International), 2 June 2020
With the virus spreading rapidly, Brazil already has the second highest number of cases and sixth highest number of deaths of any country in the world.
Coronavirus cases surpass six million globally
By Bryan Dyne, 30 May 2020
New epicenters in Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent are rapidly causing massive public health crises.
As Brazil leads world in new COVID-19 deaths, Workers Party and pseudo-lefts rally behind capitalist state
By Miguel Andrade, 28 May 2020
The so-called opposition has brought impeachment articles against Bolsonaro for harming “internal security” in his handling of the pandemic.
JBS meatpacking plant reopens in Brazil as Latin America becomes COVID-19 epicenter
By Gabriel Lemos, 27 May 2020
Workers Party governments financed JBS’s transformation into a transnational, whose plants have become COVID-19 hotspots in both Brazil and the US.
Brazil surpasses 350,000 cases as politicians promote rapid reopening of economy
By Tomas Castanheira, 26 May 2020
For the first time, Brazil announced a larger number of deaths from COVID-19 in a single day than the United States.
South America a “new epicenter” of COVID-19 pandemic, WHO warns
By Bill Van Auken, 23 May 2020
The number of new deaths on the continent is surpassing Europe, and Brazil is rapidly overtaking Russia as the country with the second most infections after the US.
Trump issues new threats as Iranian tankers approach Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 22 May 2020
The Trump administration has vowed to take unspecified “measures” to block the shipment of Iranian fuel to Venezuela, raising the threat of state piracy on the high seas.
Strikes and protests by Brazilian nurses amid explosion of COVID-19 cases
By Tomas Castanheira, 22 May 2020
Over the last 15 days, there have been dozens of protests and strikes by health care workers across Brazil, as more nurses are dying than anywhere else in the world.
Chilean government violently represses demonstrations against hunger
By Mauricio Saavedra, 22 May 2020
The ultra-right government of Sebastian Piñera has responded to an outbreak of hunger protests across Chile with repression and mass arrests
Brazil records 1,179 COVID-19 deaths in a single day amid spiraling political crisis
By Miguel Andrade, 21 May 2020
Even as it closes ranks behind Bolsonaro’s back-to-work campaign, the Brazilian ruling class is conscious that it is bringing Brazil to the brink of a social explosion.
Food delivery workers call for a national strike in Brazil
By Letícia Silva, 20 May 2020
After a series of strikes internationally, food delivery workers in Brazil are calling for a unified strike on May 30 against cuts in pay rates and unsafe working conditions.
Brazilian police massacre 13 in brutal operation in Rio de Janeiro
By Tomas Castanheira, 19 May 2020
“Instead of sending doctors and nurses to protect the residents from COVID-19, the government sends police, armored vehicles and helicopters to kill us.”
Washington places Cuba and Venezuela on “terror” list
By Bill Van Auken, 16 May 2020
After fostering an abortive mercenary invasion aimed at overthrowing Venezuela’s government and murdering its president, the US placed Caracas on a list of governments deemed uncooperative in the “war on terrorism.”
Chile’s government deploys troops in the streets as coronavirus cases soar
By Mauricio Saavedra, 16 May 2020
Ultra-right President Sebastian Piñera has responded to the pandemic, and signs of growing popular resistance, by increasing repressive powers in Chile.
Starving Bolivian workers clash with troops deployed by coup regime
By Tomas Castanheira, 15 May 2020
Amid the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez’s self-proclaimed “interim government” is escalating state repression.
Latin America emerges as new COVID-19 epicenter
By Bill Van Auken, 14 May 2020
The Americas have now surpassed Europe in terms of infections, even as governments and capitalist employers escalate their back-to-work campaign.
With Brazil on course to become new COVID-19 epicenter, Bolsonaro escalates back-to-work campaign
By Miguel Andrade, 13 May 2020
Auto factories have already restarted production even as every region in the country is breaking daily records of cases and deaths.
Number of COVID-19 cases hits 4 million worldwide
By Benjamin Mateus, 9 May 2020
The number of deaths has exceeded 275,000 and infections are growing. Yet, the stock markets continue to rise, despite unprecedented job losses.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro demands return to work as health care system collapses
By Tomas Castanheira, 9 May 2020
A recent study indicates that the country may have more than 2 million infections as Bolsonaro, speaking for Brazil’s employers, urges a “return to normalcy.”
Peru extends quarantine as COVID-19 deaths continue to climb
By Cesar Uco and Don Knowland, 9 May 2020
As immigrants to the capital make desperate efforts to return to their places of origin, overcrowded prisons have become a hotbed for propagation of the virus.
Trump’s “Bay of Pigs” in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 7 May 2020
The abortive mercenary invasion is part of a campaign of aggression that involves “maximum pressure” sanctions and the deployment of US warships off Venezuela’s shores.
Washington and its puppet Guaidó implicated in armed attacks on Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 5 May 2020
At least two of those captured in the abortive invasion plot have been identified as US citizens.
Argentine unions and employers agree to wage cuts pushing millions into poverty
By Rafael Azul, 2 May 2020
More than a million workers will face hunger and poverty while businesses get massive subsidies.
Brazilian nurses fired for striking in Manaus over PPE
By Tomas Castanheira, 1 May 2020
Thirteen Brazilian nurses were fired after striking on Monday, along with hundreds of their colleagues at the 28 de Agosto Hospital, in the Amazonian capital of Manaus.
El Salvador’s president brands gangs and opposition as “plagues”
By Andrea Lobo, 28 April 2020
The Salvadoran oligarchy’s response to the pandemic is characterized by indifference to the lives of the working class and a turn toward dictatorship.
As Bolsonaro pushes to reopen schools, Brazilian state governments escalate attacks on education
By Gabriel Lemos, 27 April 2020
Brazil’s fascistic president justified his proposal by saying, “It’s a reality: on average, 70 percent will catch the virus… It is no use running away from this reality.”
Food delivery workers in Brazil join international strikes against unsafe conditions
By Tomas Castanheira, 25 April 2020
Over the past week, there have been strikes and protests in Brazil and other Latin American countries, including Ecuador and Argentina, as well as Spain.
Amid warnings of famine and unrest in Venezuela, Maduro renews talks with US-backed opposition
By Andrea Lobo, 25 April 2020
The timing of the renewed talks makes it clear that any settlement with US imperialism would be centrally aimed against a challenge from below.
060 Brazilian delivery workers stage international strike
24 April 2020
065 Venezuela COVID
24 April 2020
Brazil’s Bolsonaro escalates coup threats as ruling class pushes “back-to-work” orders
By Miguel Andrade, 22 April 2020
As COVID-19 spread uncontrolled across the country, Bolsonaro delivered a fascist rant in front of hundreds of supporters gathered at Brazil’s Army headquarters.
Protests and looting break out in Colombia over failure to distribute aid amid COVID-19 quarantine
By Cesar Uco and Bill Van Auken, 21 April 2020
The right-wing Duque government has called for reopening “productive life without social life” to meet the needs of Colombian and foreign capital.
Brazilian nurses strike over deadly conditions as COVID-19 deaths mount
By Tomas Castanheira, 18 April 2020
This week, after a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in Brazil, protests and work stoppage spread to hospitals and other health care units.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro sacks health minister as Amazonian capital of Manaus is first to face health collapse
By Miguel Andrade, 17 April 2020
Federal and local health authorities in Brazil have widely admitted losing control of the COVID-19 spread, and now Bolsonaro expects a new minister to provide a veneer of rationality to his neglect of the disease
With the collapse of health care system, Ecuador is the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in Latin America
By Tomas Castanheira, 16 April 2020
Ecuador listed 388 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 Tuesday, but Guayaquil’s mayor estimates that in her city alone the number is over 7,000.
As COVID-19 pandemic rages, World Bank backs restructuring of education in Brazil
By Eduardo Parati, 16 April 2020
Joining Brazilian education officials and the private sector in an online meeting, a World Bank representative offered directives for a permanent for-profit distance learning system.
Coronavirus exposes Chilean two-tiered health system as deathtrap
By Mauricio Saavedra, 15 April 2020
It is the policy of sustained socio-economic shock therapy initiated under Pinochet that lay the groundwork for incalculable loss of life today
Bolivia’s coup regime extends COVID-19 quarantine amid repression
By Cesar Uco and Don Knowland, 15 April 2020
In a recent speech, interim President Añez stressed that anyone who violates the quarantine will face the “active participation of the Armed Forces and the National Police.”
Brazilian ruling class backs growing military control as COVID-19 pandemic grips country
By Miguel Andrade, 10 April 2020
Barely 35 years after being ousted from power by mass strikes, the military is being welcomed back as caretakers amid the mounting COVID-19 crisis.
As Peru escalates militarization, COVID-19 spreads to remote rural areas
By Cesar Uco, 7 April 2020
The COVID-19 virus continues to spread aggressively in Peru, endangering the poorest people of Andean or Amazonian origin who have low immune defenses.
Ecuadorians protest bodies of COVID-19 victims being left in the streets
By Andrea Lobo, 4 April 2020
Desperate families and neighbors have flooded social media with videos and reports of corpses rotting in their living rooms, sidewalks and parks for days.
General Motors imposes wage cuts and layoffs on Brazilian workers with aid of unions
By Tomas Castanheira, 3 April 2020
GM announced mass layoffs along with a wage cut of up to 25 percent in wages at all its Brazilian plants.
Honduran doctor warns of “collapsed health care system” as coronavirus toll grows
By our reporter, 3 April 2020
“Now we face this COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrates tragically that the armored tanks of the police and warships of the Navy are incapable of saving lives.”
Washington harnesses coronavirus pandemic to promote Venezuela coup
By Bill Van Auken, 1 April 2020
The so-called “Democratic Transition Framework” is a patent attempt to weaponize the global pandemic as a means of installing a puppet regime in Caracas.
Brazilian stadium turned into field hospital as ruling class closes ranks behind corporate bailouts
By Miguel Andrade, 1 April 2020
Shocking images of stadiums transformed into concentration camps for the sick and dying stand in stark contrast to Bolsonaro’s criminal denial of the seriousness of the pandemic.
Peruvian president authorizes military to use lethal force to enforce the national quarantine
By Cesar Uco and Don Knowland, 1 April 2020
A new law shows that Peru’s ruling oligarchy, in anticipation of widespread unrest, is preparing the army to carry out repression with absolute impunity.
Hunger increased by quarantines leads to protests across Latin America
By Andrea Lobo, 31 March 2020
Roadblocks, raids of supermarkets and mass quarantine violations by desperate workers forced to work and find food are spreading across the poorest neighborhoods of Latin America.
Protests across North and South America continue over lack of coronavirus protections
Workers Struggles: The Americas
31 March 2020
Health care workers in Mexico, Coca Cola workers in Chile, sanitation workers in North Carolina and Hamilton, Ontario, are among those staging strikes and protests against inadequate safety measures in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro threatens dictatorship over COVID-19 crisis
By Miguel Andrade, 27 March 2020
Leading Brazilian businessmen have terrorized workers with threats of “40 million unemployed” unless state quarantines are lifted.
“We are not going to die in our cubicles!” – Wildcat strikes erupt at call centers across Brazil
By our reporters, 26 March 2020
Workers have rebelled against unsafe conditions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging transnational corporations like AlmaViva.
Peru deploys army in the streets to enforce COVID-19 curfew
By Cesar Uco and Don Knowland, 26 March 2020
The quarantine and curfew imposed by President Vizcarra are aimed at protecting the interests of the wealthy and preparing the repression of a likely social explosion.
Twenty-three die in Colombia prison revolt over coronavirus conditions
By Julian James, 24 March 2020
Amid fears of the rapidly spreading pandemic, prison riots erupted across Colombia and were brutally suppressed by prison guards.
Mexican medical workers protest lack of supplies
Workers Struggles: The Americas
24 March 2020
Medical workers in a number of cities in Mexico have staged protests over the lack of critical supplies needed to treat patients and protect doctors and nurses.
Growing anger among Brazilian workers to response of government and unions to coronavirus crisis
By Tomas Castanheira, 20 March 2020
In the Brazilian auto plants, the life of the workers is being put at risk on a daily basis to ensure that the corporations continue to extract profits.
Hospitals lack water, power, masks
IMF denies loan to Venezuela as it braces for COVID-19
By Andrea Lobo, 19 March 2020
The loan request is only the latest appeal by the Maduro government for foreign finance and signal to world finance capital that it will defend profit interests.
Bolsonaro tells workers to work or starve as COVID-19 spreads in Brazil
By Tomas Castanheira, 18 March 2020
After personally participating in a fascistic demonstration in defense of his government, Bolsonaro made clear his intention to defend the markets at the expense of the lives of Brazilian workers.
Coronavirus overwhelms mitigation measures across Latin America
By Andrea Lobo, 13 March 2020
The late and deficient response by the Latin American ruling elite is being overwhelmed because it is guided by efforts to cover up, not address, the inequalities in access to testing and health care.
After ending oil workers strike in Brazil, union approves plant closure and layoffs
By Tomas Castanheira, 12 March 2020
Instead of "resuming the historic strike," as they had promised, the unions told workers to accept layoffs.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro signs military pact with Trump
By Bill Van Auken, 11 March 2020
The meeting of the two fascistic presidents in Florida was dedicated to escalating aggression against Venezuela, even as the US and Brazil remain divided on economic issues.
Teachers in Mexico block major railway as government deploys National Guard
By Andrea Lobo, 9 March 2020
The response by President López Obrador to the blockades is directed at suppressing any struggles by teachers and other workers against social austerity and capitalist exploitation.
Brazil: Amid brutal police repression, São Paulo government passes state pension reform
By Eduardo Parati and Gabriel Lemos, 7 March 2020
The attack was carried out with the complicity of the teachers union and after Workers Party governments in the northeast of Brazil passed their own pension reforms.
Clash between Bolsonaro and Congress deepens crisis of capitalist rule in Brazil
By Tomas Castanheira, 6 March 2020
The Bolsonaro government’s break with bourgeois democratic forms of rule—like that of Trump in the US or Modi in India—is symptomatic of a profound crisis of the entire capitalist system.
Brazilian postal workers take strike vote; Salt Lake City teachers rally at Utah capitol
Workers Struggles: The Americas
3 March 2020
More than 100,000 Brazilian postal workers are set to strike as teachers in the state of Utah rallied to demand education funding
In alliance with Workers’ Party, Bolsonaro sends Brazilian army to contain police strike
By Tomas Castanheira, 27 February 2020
Bolsonaro’s use of the army for domestic repression and his granting troops a license to kill with impunity are in continuity with policies pursued by the PT when it was in power.
Brazilian oil workers’ unions shut down strike to “negotiate” with Labor Court
By Gabriel Lemos, 25 February 2020
The oil workers union federations ended the three-week strike at state-owned oil giant Petrobras just as it threatened to impact Brazil’s economy.
Two impoverished teenagers die working in an illegal Peruvian mine
By Cesar Uco, 25 February 2020
The deaths of the 14- and 17-year-old brothers of gas poisoning in the mine are part of a nationwide toll from the exploitation of workers in illegal and unsafe mines.
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