SACSA Drivers Don Hoods To Protest
The turmoil over the Cartag-San José bus route continues. The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Trasportes (MOPT) announced last month that the route would be awarded to a new company, replacing SACSA after the company has far too many complaints of service and several traffic accidents that were related to poor fleet maintenance.

The route was awarded to LUMACA, a consortium that includes the owners of the TUASA bus company that operates of two routes concessions between Alajuela and San José. LUMACA will take over the route on January 15.

SACSA has provided service on the route for decades.

The change places in jeapardy the jobs of 200 SACSA bus drivers who have yet to be hired by LUMACA, who decided on Thursday to picket outside the offices of the MOPT in downtown San José, urging MOPT minister, Randall Quiros, to intervene and assure them jobs.

Wearing hoods to protect their identities, the drivers with placards in hand, made sure that their voice was heard. However, no resolution came of the protest, though one MOPT official said that the drivers will not be left out in the cold.

The masks, according to several drivers at the protest, is in fear of reprisals and not being hired by LUMACA as possible troublemakers.

LUMACA is still analyzing the needs of the bus route and yet to make a decision if it is to hire SACSA drivers.

Many of the complaints against SACSA included discourteous drivers.