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Bolivia's Major Cities Ground to a Halt as Transport Workers Strike Over Fuel Price Hike

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. ansport-workers-strike-over-fuel-price-hike.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 11:30 GMT by WNYT NewsChannel 13
      Locale: La Paz Department, BOLIVIA

Bolivia’s Major Cities Ground to a Halt as Transportation Workers Strike Over Fuel Price Hike

On the morning of Monday, 3 September, the once‑vibrant streets of La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba fell silent. Buses, colectivos, and taxi cabs stopped moving, turning the capital and its commercial heart into a gridlocked ghost town. The cause? A nationwide strike by transport workers protesting a sudden 12 percent hike in gasoline and diesel prices that the government announced earlier that week.

The strike, organized by the Federation of Transport Workers (FTU), quickly spread from La Paz to other major cities, shutting down the public transit system for most of the day. Strikers demanded that the government refund the extra fuel costs to commuters—a figure that reached roughly 1,300 bolivianos (about $170) per passenger according to the union’s spokesperson, Luis Méndez. The union also called for a full reversal of the fuel price increase, which they say is part of a broader set of economic reforms that will disproportionately affect ordinary citizens.

How the Strikes Began

In La Paz, the strike started at 9 am when a group of 200 drivers gathered outside the Ministry of Transport. They carried signs reading “No more fuel hikes” and “Refund the extra cost.” By mid‑morning, the protest had drawn support from a wider cross‑section of transport operators—ranging from bus companies to motorcycle taxi (mototaxi) owners—who feared that the new price would render their services unaffordable for many commuters.

Within hours, the situation mirrored across the country. In Santa Cruz, the city’s main bus terminal was blocked by protestors, while in Sucre, the streets around the University of the Andes were choked with stalled vehicles. Even in Cochabamba, a city known for its robust public transit system, the strike forced the temporary closure of the city's primary metro station.

“The city has never seen something like this,” said Maria Flores, a 34‑year‑old mother of two who depends on public transport to get to work. “The buses were nowhere to be seen, and I had to walk 10 kilometers to find a taxi, but it was impossible because the drivers were all part of the strike.”

Government Response and Negotiations

President Luis Arce’s administration was quick to respond. At 1 pm, the Ministry of Finance announced a partial refund of 350 bolivianos for commuters who purchased tickets in the last 48 hours. This measure, though significant, fell far short of the union’s demand, and the strike continued.

By 4 pm, a televised emergency meeting was convened between the President, the Minister of Finance, and FTU representatives. “We understand the concerns of the transport workers and we are willing to discuss the possibility of a rollback or a more gradual increase,” the President said on national television. The union’s leaders, however, demanded an immediate reversal of the hike and the release of the 1,300‑boliviano refund promised at the outset.

Negotiations were tense. At one point, the FTU announced that they would extend the strike until a settlement was reached. The protests grew more chaotic when several buses were blocked at the intersection of Avenida 6 de Mayo and Avenida Bolivar, a major traffic artery in La Paz.

In the end, the strike was called off at 7 pm after the government promised to open a special commission to review the fuel pricing policy and expedite the refund process. The union agreed to lift the blockade, but only after the commission had produced a definitive report, which is scheduled for release next week.

Context: Fuel Price Hikes and Inflation

The fuel price increase is part of a broader set of reforms introduced by the Arce administration aimed at reducing the fiscal deficit and curbing inflation. The Ministry of Economy had warned that failing to adjust fuel prices would lead to a further collapse of the country's currency. The government cited the need to align Bolivia’s energy sector with international market realities, citing a global rise in oil prices.

However, critics argue that the hike, imposed without a phased approach or compensation, is an unfair burden on the poor. “We have seen similar increases before, and we paid the price,” said Enrique Sánchez, a 52‑year‑old truck driver from Santa Cruz. “Now we’re being asked to pay more for the same fuel and we have to pay our workers. This is a recipe for economic disaster.”

The strike echoes earlier disruptions in 2023, when Bolivian transport workers staged nationwide protests in response to wage freezes and increased fuel taxes. That protest similarly saw massive traffic disruptions and economic losses estimated at over 1.2 billion bolivianos ($313 million).

Economic Fallout

The immediate economic impact of the strike was significant. The Transport Ministry estimated that the interruption caused a loss of approximately 500 million bolivianos ($131 million) in daily revenue for businesses dependent on commuter traffic. Small retailers reported a steep decline in foot traffic, while local delivery services were forced to find alternative means to reach customers.

In the broader economic picture, the strike added to concerns about Bolivia’s already fragile economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had recently warned that any sudden spike in fuel costs could exacerbate inflationary pressures. “The IMF’s warning is not new; the government must navigate between fiscal discipline and social stability,” noted Dr. Ana María Paredes, an economist at the University of San Andrés.

Looking Ahead

As the city begins to normalize, the government and the FTU are now locked in a tense but hopeful negotiation process. The Commission on Energy Reform, set to convene next Tuesday, will evaluate whether the fuel price hike can be rolled back or, if not, what compensatory measures could be introduced.

Meanwhile, ordinary citizens are still grappling with the aftershocks of the strike. “We have to figure out how to get to work and how to buy groceries when the price of fuel keeps rising,” said Ms. Flores. “The government has promised to help, but right now it feels like we’re left in the dark.”

Bolivia’s transport sector, a vital artery for its economy, will undoubtedly remain a focal point of public discourse in the coming weeks. As the nation watches the outcomes of the negotiations, the stakes remain high—both for the daily lives of commuters and for the long‑term economic trajectory of the country.