Uruguay: Unionized workers to hold caravan protests nationwide Feb. 24

Event

Workers affiliated with the National Union of Construction and Annexes (Sindicato Unico Nacional de Construccion y Anexos, SUNCA) plan to stage more than 30 caravan protests in cities nationwide Feb. 24. The action forms part of a partial strike between 0900-1300 over labor rights. The SUNCA workers are backed by Uruguay's major labor union Plenary Syndicates for Workers - National Convention of Workers (Plenario Intersindical de Trabajadores - Convencion Nacional de Trabajadores, PIT-CNT), and the protests are likely to be well attended.

The largest protests are likely to occur in Montevideo. The caravans will be launched from various points in the city, including the intersection of Rambla Concepcion del Uruguay and Avenida General Rivera, Kibon, Obelisco, the intersection of Camino Carmelo Colman and Camino Coronel Raiz, Zonamerica, the intersection of Perimetral and Avenida Jose Belloni, and Refineria la Teja in the port area.

Protests elsewhere have been confirmed at some of the following locations, and are likely to start at around 0900, unless otherwise stated:

• Artigas: Intersection Rio Branco and Misiones

• Bella Union: Plaza Misiones Orientales

• Ciudad de la Costa: Intersection of Avenida a la Playa and Avenida de las Americas

• Durazno: Intersection of Juan Antonio Lavalleja and Emilio Frugoni

• Maldonado: Parada 12 Playa Brava

• Melo: Ruta 8

• Paysandu: Camino Autobalzo (north) and Silverio Martinez (south)

• Rivera: Central Cemetery roundabout from 0930

• Rocha: Plaza del Maestro

• Salto: Shopping Salto

• Tacuarembo: Intersection of Ituzaingo and Simon Bolivar

• Treinta y Tres: Intersection of Manuel Freire and Tacuruses from 1000

Police may deploy to monitor all large protests and possibly enforce road closures to facilitate the action; however, major violence is unlikely. The motorcades are likely to cause major traffic disruptions, especially in Montevideo.

Advice

Avoid all protests. Do not attempt to cross any protest-related blockades. Allow extra time to reach destinations in major cities and near known protest locations Feb. 24.