May 12 (UPI) -- Bolivia's largest labor union federation launched a nationwide strike Tuesday, with road and street blockades, as teachers, farmers and Indigenous organizations expanded protests and some leaders began to demand President Rodrigo Paz's resignation.
The strike, called by the Bolivian Workers' Central, known as COB, marks a new escalation in the country's growing political and social crisis after nearly two weeks of protests over fuel shortages, wage demands and opposition to a package of economic reforms promoted by the government.
"The people's demands have not been addressed to date," COB said in the directive that formalized the "indefinite mobilized strike."
The demonstrations began with demands related to diesel supply, fuel quality, wage increases and the repeal of Law 1720 on land classification, but in recent days evolved into broader political demands.
"The people are already tired, all 20 provinces have spoken out, the population has surpassed us, they are fed up with this government and the only demand from the 20 provinces is the resignation of Rodrigo Paz," said Vicente Salazar, leader of the Túpac Katari Peasant Federation of La Paz, according to Diario Desacato.
