Solidarity strikes are illegal, but the government does not prosecute those responsible, nor does it impose penalties. The COB's numerous strikes to protest the government's economic reforms are receiving decreased support. The COB demonstrations that habitually have disrupted public order in major cities have been largely absent in 1997 and 1998. Unions are not free from influence by political parties. Most parties have labor committees that try to sway union activity, causing fierce political battles within unions.
Most unions also have party activists as members.
The Labor Code allows unions to join international labor organizations. The COB contends that it still is the exclusive representative of all Bolivian workers. Consultations between government representatives and COB leaders are common but have little effect on wages or working conditions. Major structural reforms have further eroded the COB's legitimacy as the sole labor representative. Private employers may use public sector settlements as guidelines for their own adjustments and in fact often exceed them.