Uruguay general strike of 1973
Encyclopedia
In 1973 a coup
was declared in Uruguay
by the president, Juan María Bordaberry
, who closed parliament and imposed direct rule from a junta
of military generals. The official reason was to crush the Tupamaros, a Marxist urban guerrilla
movement. The leftist trade union
federations called a general strike
and for factory occupations. The strike lasted just over two weeks. It was ended with most of the trade union leaders in jail, dead, or exiled to Argentina
. As part of the coup all associations including trade unions were declared illegal and banned.
Unions and political parties remained illegal until a general strike in 1984 forced the military to accept civilian rule and the restoration of democracy.
1973 Uruguayan coup d'état
The 1973 Uruguayan coup d'état took place in Uruguay on the 27th of June 1973 and marked the beginning of the civic-military dictatorship which lasted until 1985....
was declared in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
by the president, Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry Arocena was a Uruguayan politician and cattle rancher, who first served as President from 1972 until 1976, including as a dictator from 1973 until his ouster in a 1976 coup...
, who closed parliament and imposed direct rule from a junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
of military generals. The official reason was to crush the Tupamaros, a Marxist urban guerrilla
Urban guerrilla warfare
Urban guerrilla redirects here. For the Hawkwind song, see Urban Guerrilla.Urban guerrilla refers to someone who fights a government using unconventional warfare in an urban environment...
movement. The leftist trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
federations called a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
and for factory occupations. The strike lasted just over two weeks. It was ended with most of the trade union leaders in jail, dead, or exiled to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. As part of the coup all associations including trade unions were declared illegal and banned.
Unions and political parties remained illegal until a general strike in 1984 forced the military to accept civilian rule and the restoration of democracy.