THOUSANDS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS DEMAND PAY RISE

MEXICO CITY, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA – RIA Novosti/ – Thousands of healthcare workers from the Mexican Institute of Social Security took to the streets of the capital, demanding a 10 percent pay rise and rejecting an eight percent offer from management.

Mexico City authorities said that around 7,000 people took part in the demonstrations. Medical staff and other uniformed workers took to the streets carrying national flags. Public healthcare employees are demanding that medical facilities be supplied with medicines and other materials. They are also calling for the removal of their union leader, who is a deputy from the ruling Morena party. Last week, workers voted to reject the initial pay agreement, after which management’s new proposal was also turned down. Police set up cordons in Mexico City’s main square, prompting demonstrators to change their route and stage an indefinite protest along Reforma Avenue. One of their demands is to increase government spending on healthcare from 2.5 percent to seven percent of gross domestic product /GDP/.