Issue and Opponent: On October 10, 1982, Bolivia had its first democratic election in 18 years with Hernán Siles Zuazo winning the presidency. The majority of his Congress was made up of opposition members which led to political tension and increasing pressure from the anti-communist agendas of the IMF and U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Bolivian labor organizations were heavily involved in the presidential election so they held ambitious goals for the new democracy. They wanted workers and labor representatives to hold leadership roles on company boards and government committees. In November 1983, the Bolivian government adopted a new economic package that resembled the neoliberal policies promoted by the U.S. This launched a series of strikes by the Central Workers Union (COB), calling for the removal of Siles Zuazo and demanding fair wages to combat the hyperinflation in the country. In March 1985, the COB, Felipe Tapia, and other labor organizations organized a massive strike in La Paz in response to another economic austerity plan by the administration. This plan increased the prices of food and transportation while decreasing the currency value.
Dilemma Action: The strikers demanded increased wages, stable access to food, controls on prices, and the resignation of President Siles Zuazo. Over 10,000 miners met in the streets of La Paz each day to protest the administration. The strike lasted for 16 days and spread to the oil refineries in the southern cities. The strike closed down government offices, banks, mines, and several small businesses. It crippled vital sectors of the economy and required government action to end it.
Outcomes: On March 24, 16 days after the start of the strike, the strikers accepted an offer from the government to end the strike. They agreed to quadruple the minimum wage. The miners, however, continued to demonstrate without a clear goal. In fear of future protests from the labor organizations, Siles Zuazo agreed to a special election, where he was removed from his position on July 14, 1985.