Calderón Hospital
Workers
Continue Strike
Despite the strike
action by the workers of
the Hospital Calderón
Guardia, officials of
the Caja Costarricense
del Seguro Social (CCSS)
are not backing down and
reinstating the three
fired hospital
functionaries.
The strike action began
Wednesday morning at 7am
as a four work stoppage
and then converted to a
full strike by 11am when
CCSS officials said they
would stay firm on the
firing.
The strikers want the
immediate reinstatement
of Dr. Luis Paulino
Hernandez, director of
the hospital and the
hospital administrator
and chief of
maintenance, who were
fired over the fire of
July 12, 2005 that
caused the death of 19
people.
CCSS officials say that
they have followed due
process to fire the
three, while strikers
say that they will
continue their work
stoppage until the three
are reinstated.
All but emergency
services were affected
yesterday at the
hospital located in
downtown San José.
Dr. Eduardo Doryan,
president of the CCSS,
said yesterday that the
firing will be the
subject of a study
during the following
nine days, but will not
mean a step backwards,
as it cannot be done, as
it would be an
unconstitutional and
illegal action.
Geovanni Ramírez,
representing the
hospital workers
belonging to the
Asociación Nacional de
Empelados Públicos y
Privados (ANEP) union,
said they don't
understand the
relationship of the
firings and the fire.
Ramírez was adamant that
the only way the workers
will go back to their
jobs is with the
reinstallation of the
three men.
Dr. Doryan added that
hospital workers who
continue to strike will
face sanctions.
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