Chilean unions organize indefinite general strike

June 22, 1983

Chilean unions claiming to represent almost a third of the country's work force have called for an indefinite general strike to begin Thursday. The decision was announced shortly after a judge ordered the imprisonment of six leaders of the union representing striking copper workers, including its acting president, Hugo Estivales.

The strike call is seen as the most serious challenge to President Augusto Pinochet Ugarte's 10-year military rule.