Bank workers join strike against Venezuelan leader

Thousands of Venezuelan bank workers stayed home Thursday to support a nationwide strike seeking new presidential elections, further weakening the currency as analysts speculate the government of Hugo Chavez is running out of money.

Jose Torres, president of the opposition-aligned Fetrabanca workers union, urged employees to provide only minimal services--such as processing payments for medical emergencies--Thursday and today.

But Luis Boris, secretary general of the pro-government bank workers union Sutrabanca, accused bank owners of closing doors without consulting workers.

The odd thing about all the actions taken by the opposition is that they harm the middle and upper classes, not the lower classes which the bulk of the government support. Many residents in poorer areas barely notice the lockouts. This does weaken the already low goverment support by the middle-class and there appears little the opposition can do to really harm the poor.

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."