Workers Struggles: The Americas Chilean health workers strike to protest insufficient pay raise Chile’s National Confederation of Municipal Health Functionaries (Confusam) began a national strike December 16. The walkout was called to voice opposition to the paltry raises offered by the government of President Sebastian Piñera; a 2.7 percent rise in monthly wages for up to 1.5 million pesos (US$2,068) and 0.8 percent for wages up to 3 million pesos (US$4,137). In a CNN interview, the Confusam president denounced the “adjustment” that “leaves the majority of our functionaries with less purchasing power than before.” He added that the Christmas and end-of-year bonuses have been frozen, with the government justifying it by “arguments that denigrate our actions as workers, and that allude to the help that the state should give to businessmen to sustain the economy.” Instead, “They want the crisis to be paid for by those who are risking their lives fighting the pandemic.”