Start of indefinite national mining strike
On October 17, 1988, an indefinite national strike of mining and metallurgical workers began in Peru. This strike was marked by violence, with the assassination of union leaders by the PCP-SL on the same day and the following days.
On October 17, 1988, an indefinite national strike of mining and metallurgical workers began in Peru. This strike took place in a context of political violence where the PCP-SL (Shining Path) had been carrying out attacks against mining infrastructure and assassinating union leaders who opposed the stoppages. On the same day the strike began, in Morococha, alleged Shining Path supporters murdered mining leader Alejandro Patiño Flores with a bullet to the head. The following day, on October 18, in La Oroya, the PCP-SL assassinated the former leader and PCP Unidad militant, Fidencio Coronel, allegedly for opposing the mining strike. The strike had a significant impact on the economy of the mining sector at the national and regional level.