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President Sebastian Pinera's administration has been beset by regular mass student protests...even rioting met with water cannons and tear gas...over education standards and costs.
New polls show that Pinera's approval rating dropped to 31%...down by 15 points in June.
Now he has proposed $4bn usd for higher education...to try to calm protesters and regain support.
But the protesters apparently...are not buying it. They recently held a kiss-in protest.
"It's not just a student movement. There's a strong and widespread discontent that Spain's 'indignados' are also expressing," said a political analyst .
Those education protests...along with large recent protests against proposed Patagonian energy projects... and a possible strike at state copper giant Codelco...have threatened his legislative plans.
AND: Some union workers at Chile's Starbucks...will walkout over low pay and benefits.
New hires get $2.50 per hour...a rate that hasn't changed in 8 years.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/starbucks-idUSN1E76523020110707
