Original article: CUT acusa “agenda antitrabajador” y alerta por retrocesos en ley de 40 horas 

CUT Denounces «Anti-Worker Agenda» and Warns of Setbacks in 40-Hour Work Law

On Wednesday, April 22, a new episode of Sentido Común, hosted by Javier Pineda, premiered. This edition featured Gonzalo García, the secretary-general of the JJ.CC., as a panelist.

During the discussion, they engaged with Eric Campos, secretary-general of the CUT and leader of Metro workers, about the government’s labor measures, focusing particularly on the implementation of the 40-Hour Work Law.

Campos began by stating that the current government does not possess a genuine labor agenda but rather an «anti-worker agenda,» as the narrative, rhetoric, and political actions appear to aim at dismantling the few significant advancements in individual rights achieved during the previous administration.

Moreover, the CUT secretary-general recalled what he termed an «ideological whim» when Parliament withdrew the bill for multi-level or branch negotiations, despite having the majority to oppose it during discussions in the Assembly.

«It’s like a mix between CEO-led governments and flat-earth libertarians. There’s a blend there; two spirits that fail to coalesce are shaping a position, a tone, and actions that are quite anti-popular […] anti-worker, anti-middle class […] and anti-majority,» he declared.

When asked about the profile of the Minister of Labor, Tomás Rau, he noted that the minister comes from an academic background connected to international organizations that would allow for some dialogue, but he emphasized that Rau adheres to a right-wing perspective focused on defending the interests of big business.

He also criticized the job subsidy proposal, arguing that it essentially offers transfers to businesses rather than direct support to workers, without necessarily creating new jobs. In his view, these measures lack innovation, and he warned of the rapid processing of policies, which he said demands a more active response from labor and social movements against government advances.

Regarding the recent ruling on the 40-Hour Work Law issued by controller Dorothy Pérez, Campos warned that the authority has maintained, in his view, an anti-union attitude stemming from Gabriel Boric’s government, further questioning the silence of leftist sectors in response to this situation.

Additionally, he cautioned that a narrative has been established portraying state workers as «parasites,» suggesting that the State is ineffectual and merely functions as a mechanism to steal money. For Campos, this, along with recent rulings, has restricted union freedom, preventing, for instance, the holding of assemblies during working hours, compounded by persecution against several leaders in the public sector.

«The setbacks experienced in labor rights, union freedom, and decent work in the public sector are quite concerning, aiming, on one hand, to discipline the union movement and, on the other, sending signals to the market,» he stated.

In this context, Campos warned that rulings such as those concerning break times set a poor precedent, as they could be replicated by the private sector, undermining the goal of the 40-Hour Work Law. He believes there is a risk of new measures that could further restrict this right, distorting its primary purpose: to improve people’s quality of life.

He accused the government of acting with «cruelty» regarding labor matters and predicted that its effects would be felt in the coming months, both due to cost transfers—like those related to MEPCO—to the public and potential reductions in public services impacting broad sectors, including the middle class.

On another note, the union leader explained that the CUT fulfills its role as a counterforce to the government, regardless of political sector: with administrations closer to the labor world, they seek progress, but with right-wing governments—like the current one—they must resist and defend rights.

In this framework, he anticipates that the current scenario compels more defense than advancement, combining institutional dialogue with mobilization, projecting a massive and claim-focused May 1st demonstration.

Concerning the 40-Hour Work Law, the leader warned that through legal loopholes and recent rulings, the government is undermining its goal to reduce working hours for better quality of life. He specifically pointed to the application of Article 22, whose criteria are reportedly being expanded to exclude more workers from reduced hours.

Furthermore, in his capacity as a leader of Santiago’s Metro, Campos stated that the main measures taken by the governments generally seem aimed at strengthening public transport, which would result in significant savings in daily oil barrel purchases. However, he noted that this government has not provided clear measures, leading to uncertainty in this area.

Campos explained that such uncertainty is reflected in reduced bus availability during peak hours, which users directly perceive on the streets. He also criticized the lack of measures to strengthen public transport, asserting that although fares have not increased in Santiago, they are already high and the problem remains unresolved in regions.

Lastly, he expressed criticism of the subsidy scheme, indicating that the State allocates more resources to private operators than to state public transport like Metro. For him, there is no concrete policy promoting public transport or intermodality. He also questioned the minister’s closeness to companies like Uber and concessionaires, which he asserted skews decisions towards private business rather than the welfare of users.

Next, you can watch the complete interview with Eric Campos on Sentido Común: