ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

Thousands of Bolivian workers took to the streets of La Paz on Wednesday (May 09) to launch a three-day strike in solidarity with health workers who have been protesting against the government for over a month.

The march was organized by the Bolivian Workers' Center, the country's chief trade union, and garnered support from passers by.

Miners joined in and set off dynamite in the downtown streets to draw attention to the cause.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators before they reached the Presidential Palace.

The leader of the health workers' strike, said the group will not back down until President Evo Morales gets rid of a planned law that will increase working hours without providing what they consider appropriate compensation and benefits.

Last week, Morales said he will suspend the law, but many protesters say that is not enough and want to see it repealed.

The proposed law has provoked violent protests, hunger strikes and road blocks across the country.

Related marches have also taken place in many other cities in the Andean nation, including Sucre, El Alto and Cochabamba.