Public Health Service Workers To Strike Tuesday
Tuesday March 13 will be a day set by health workers to strike as workers belonging to the Unión Nacional de Empleados de la Caja y la Seguridad Social (Undeca) union say that the government has failed to resolve a number of their salary and occupational hazard concerns.

Luis Chavarría, secretary general of Undeca, announced yesterday that a major part of hospital and clinic workers will be on strike this Tuesday beginning at 6:00am.

"The actions taken by authorities has consisted in a laughable salary adjustment, which in reality offers the personal intelligence of those dedicated daily to offer better services to Costa Ricans", said Chavarría.

Chavarría added that they are taking about a salary increase of ¢1.000 colones (us$1.92), an insignificant sum that has offended the workers, feeling they are being mocked and are ready to withdraw their services.

Expected to take part in the strike are functionaries of hospitals and medical centres operated by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), which will affect, among other services, laboratories, x rays, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and farmacies.

Chavarría said that a study of salaries in the work place demonstrates that CCSS workers are underpaid.

The Undeca leader expects a strong support by the workers who form the support group for medical services.

Chavarría added that their intention is not to affect the public, but the strike is the only way that their voice can be heard, as all negotiations have been exhausted.

CCSS authorities feel that the Undeca strike is unjustified and that the medical services should not be interrupted and that in the coming days there is hope of reaching a settlement.