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SANTIAGO, Chile (CNN) -- Nearly half a million public employees went on strike throughout Chile on Monday over a wage dispute.
The 450,000 workers want a 14.5 percent pay increase. The government has offered 6.5 percent, which is less than Chile's 9.9 percent annual increase in the cost of living.
Striking workers took to the streets Monday, marching in most of the nation's major cities.
The nation was paralyzed for two days last week when the workers went on strike. The public employees have not set an end date for the strike.
Because of the strike, garbage is piling up on streets, tax and fee collection has stopped and public health and education are practically paralyzed. Even weddings and autopsies are not being performed.
President Michelle Bachelet met with the treasury minister Monday morning, and government spokesman Francisco Vidal said officials expect the strike to end soon because government negotiators have made a new offer.
The armed forces, port and maritime authorities, civil aviation officials and the agricultural and livestock services will take measures to make sure that imports and exports are not affected, the government said on its Web site.
The government also announced a series of emergency contacts, including telephone numbers and Web site addresses, for some services such as tax collection.
All About Chile • Labor Strikes and Disputes
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